April 7, 2014

The Department of Agriculture recently conducted series of Orientation Meetings with the Local Government Units on Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) namely Masbate, Sorsogon and Catanduanes.

According to RTD for Operations and Extension Elena de los Santos, PRDP is being implemented in partnership with the local government units. It is a platform for a modern and climate smart agriculture with four program components namely: investments for AFMP Planning at the local and national levels (I-PLAN), Intensified Building-Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-BUILD), Investments for Rural Enterprises and Agri-Fishery Productivity (I-REAP) and Support to Program Implementation (I-SUPPORT).

Delos Santos added that each province came up with a Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP). This is a product of the value chain analysis and interventions shall be focused on the identified commodity. She said orientations like this is being conducted to orient the PLGUs and the PLGU planning team on the process of PCIP preparation, using the value chain analysis. They will also be taught on how to prepare the draft PCIP for review on the next step of PCIP finalization.

On the part of the governors they are optimistic that the project would bring benefits to the farmers and that it would also promote agricultural development in the countryside. Under the I-BUILD and I-REAP infrastructures will be built that would increase production and income of the farmers and fisherfolk. The I-BUILD in particular took the biggest slice of the PRDP funds.

Catanduanes Governor Araceli B. Wong said that the project is important for the island province as they want to ensure that farmers would get quality produce and obtain better income. Sorsogon City Mayor Sally Lee on the otherhand, emphasized that this project is part of the answer to mitigate climate change. She thanked the DA and the World Bank for coming up with this project that prioritizes environmental protection and resource conservation. For Catanduanes, three commodities were identified for the PCIP which include abaca, coconut and crab. They will decide on the final commodity in their next meeting. On the part of Sorsogon, they chose pili while Masbate has not decided yet on the specific commodity.

Meanwhile, the PRDP Overview and Implementation Arrangement was discussed by Director Shandy Hubilla Luzon B- Program Support Office Coordinator while the Investments in AFMP Planning at the Local and National Levels was discussed by Jaydda Mayoralgo. Other topics discussed include : Intensified Building Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development; Investments for Rural Enterprises and Agricultural and Fisheries Productivity and Social and Environmental Safeguards. Likewise the Provincial Planning Development Officers of each province presented their priority commodities. (mabelle roa-ilan)

Director Shandy Hubilla discusses the PRDP overview during the orientation held at Sorsogon.

Sorsogon City Mayor Sally Lee

Orientation for Catanduanes province

Orientation at Masbate