The Provincial Development Councils (PDC) of the provinces of Batangas, Quezon, and Rizal endorsed the implementation of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project Scale-Up (PRDP Scale-Up) to the CALABARZON Regional Development Council (RDC). According to the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic Development Authority, the approval of the CALABARZON RDC is crucial for implementing the PRDP Scale-Up in the region.

DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office CALABARZON (RPCO 4A) Project Director Engr. Marcos Aves, Sr. expressed his gratitude to the PDCs. According to him, the support shown by the PDCs to the PRDP Scale-Up implementation in CALABARZON is a massive help in promoting development in the agriculture sector and strengthening food security not just in the provinces but in the entire country. He also assured the PDCs that the RPCO 4A would provide reliable and quality support if they avail funding and assistance for a subproject under the PRDP Scale-Up.

The PRDP Scale-Up is the expanded version of the DA-PRDP that aims to improve the efficiency of the food supply chain, ensure the availability of affordable and quality food in the market, and increase the income of farmers and fisherfolks. Jointly funded by the World Bank and the Philippine government, the PRDP Scale-Up will fund and implement infrastructure and enterprise subprojects that promote climate resiliency, rice, and corn commodities, and the clustering and consolidation of farmers.

Rizal Vice Governor Reynaldo San Juan, Jr. expressed his optimism to uplift rural development in their province after the Rizal PDC endorsed the PRDP Scale-Up to the Regional Development Council. (Photo by Mary Ann Macaraig, CALABARZON I-PLAN Component)

The Batangas PDC showed their commitment and proactiveness in implementing the PRDP Scale-Up in their province as they immediately moved to specifics about the local commodities they will support through PRDP Scale-Up. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

The Quezon PDC was the first to endorse the PRDP Scale-Up in the CALABARZON region. After the endorsement, they immediately scheduled a PRDP Scale-Up Orientation for LGUs in the province in partnership with the DA-PRDP RPCO 4A. (Photo by Mary Jane Rayosa, CALABARZON I-PLAN Component)