DA to launch P27B development project

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture is set to launch its P27 billion Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in Cebu on November 21 with President Benigno Aquino III and officials of the World Bank.

All governors of the country’s 81 provinces are expected to attend the event.

The PRDP is aimed at improving infrastructure and providing livelihood to farmers, said Gerry Avila, chief of the Agri-Business and Marketing Division of DA-7, during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Avila said the P27 billion loan from the World Bank will be distributed throughout the country up to 2021.

PRDP is patterned after the Mindanao Rural Development Program, which is said to be successfully implemented.

Avila said the program is expanded to Visayas and Luzon though Mindanao is still covered by PRDP.

“It envisions inclusive growth. It is the thrust of our government in terms of market access,” he said.

Of the total amount, 67 percent will be allocated to i-Build Project for infrastructure, 25 percent for enterprise development and the remaining is for planning and supporting infrastructure.

Avila explained that the entry point is the provinces which will prepare the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) in which priority projects are identified.

In Central Visayas, Avila said they are initially focusing on Bohol and northern Cebu, which were hit by major calamities last year, in terms of infrastructure and livelihood projects.

Initially, Cebu province identified the development of cassava plantation, dairy production, coconut, seaweeds, cacao, mango, livestock and poultry.

“Ang budgeting, it depends on how the provincial or municipal government will be able to prepare. Kung enterprise, it is on business plan; if infrastructure, it is on feasibility study,” Avila said.

The World Bank has also set some requirements especially on social and environmental safeguards.

Avila reported that the loan package was already approved and the agreement between the Philippine government and World Bank has been signed.  – /LPM (FREEMAN)