“Mayat Kami! (We’re in favor!)” is the positive response of the Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in Barangays Lower San Agustin, Upper San Agustin and Sibuan-Otong in Bauang, La Union during the public consultation of the Lower San Agustin to Sibuan-Otong Farm to Market Road on September 15, 2015.

The Rehabilitation of the Lower San Agustin to Sibuan-Otong Farm to Market Road is proposed by the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) to support the mango industry in Bauang. According to the Expanded Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment Results of mango in La Union, Bauang is among the top five most suitable municipalities to grow mango.

Prior to their agreement on the implementation of the project in their area, the consultation proved to be very helpful in making them understand what is at stake should they or should they not agree with the project proposal. However, the public consultation held is just one in a series of consultations to be made with the group so that all matters and other stakeholders that need to be consulted concerning the project will be properly addressed.

Under the Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) unit of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), a six-year national agri-fishery project of the Government and the World Bank, public consultations are mandated to be conducted to inform and orient the project beneficiaries about the PRDP.

During public consultations, PAPs will be asked whether or not they want the project to be constructed in their area. Should they agree or be in favor, they will be asked a follow-up question on their willingness to donate their lands. If they do not, compensation among PAPs will be discussed.

“How will we get compensated?” is the most common question among project affected persons (PAPs) during public consultations.

The total cost of one PRDP subproject does not include compensation expenses for PAPs. Compensation deemed as counterpart of the local government unit (LGU) where the subproject will rise over and above the total cost of the subproject.

Most PAPs that the Regional Project Coordination Office 1 (RPCO1) together with the LGUs encountered are those who will lose agricultural land and crops.

The Project’s Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Framework dictates that if the loss is 20 percent or less and the remaining lot is still viable, PAPs are entitled to cash compensation at market value; if the loss is more than 20 percent of the landholding and remaining is still viable, PAPs are entitled to cash compensation and livelihood assistance; if the loss is more than 20 percent and the remaining is not viable, PAPs are entitled to cash compensation or land replacement; and, loss of standing crops/fruit/industrial trees will amount to cash compensation at market price for PAPs.

The Infrastructure Component of the Regional Project Coordination Office 1 eyes the 2^nd week of October, 2015 to submit the last batch of Infrastructure subprojects to the Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (RPAB1) for their approval. (Ilocos InfoACE)

La Union Provincial Engineer Elizabeth Sias dicusses the design and right-of-way of the proposed infrastructure subproject to project affected persons (PAPs).