Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) Regional Executive Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr has directed all Research Center/ Experiment Station Managers, Banner Program Coordinators and Regional Project Coordination Office 2 (RPCO2) Component and Unit Heads to provide technical assistance in the identification and packaging of Small Livelihood Projects (SLPs) for the cooperatives and/or associations in the entire region.

His directive is in response to the felt need to alleviate the damage caused by Typhoon “Lando” on the livelihood of farmers and fisher folks in the affected areas.

In an initial meeting on November 6, 2015 with PPMIUs, city and municipal local government units (LGUs), and other civil society organizations (CSOs), RED Alviar emphasized the need to get the most out of the Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) maximum grant of P1,000,000.00 for each registered  group or association.

“Let us altogether help them (cooperatives and associations) in the technical aspect of coming out with the required subproject proposals. The PRDP’s grant to Small Livelihood Projects aims to assist the agri-fishery sector in the Region towards recovering from the damage caused by the recent Super Typhoon Lando,” RED Alviar said.

“While it is a financial grant, let us not forget the sustainability element of the SLP,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, RPCO2 I-REAP Component Head Ms. Vivien DL. Delos Santos had earlier briefed participants of the criteria for qualifying as well as the requisite documents needed to avail of the financial assistance.

Among those requirements discussed was the proponent group’s eligibility. A Proponent Group (PG) is defined as an organization of farmers or fishers in the affected areas which may or may not be registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) or Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Ms. Delos Santos enumerated the following requirements for SLP: (a) Letter of Intent addressed to the LGU, (b) LGU evaluation on the financial and organizational capability of the proponent group,(c) a sworn affidavit of the secretary of the NGO/PO that none of its incorporators, organizers, directors, or officials (an agent of or related by consanguinity or affinity up to the fourth degree to the officials) of the government implementing agency authorized to process and /or approve the proposal, the MOA and the release of funds. Relationship of this nature shall automatically disqualify the NGO/PO from being granted the fund, (d) Certificate of No Unliquidated Account with LGU and DA, and  (e) Capacity to provide an equity or counterpart of at least 20% in cash and/ or in kind to the total enterprise cost; Proof of Equity (Cash- Bank Certificate); Land Title/ Lease contract/ Deed of Donation, etc. as applicable.

The amount of enterprise project fund that will be provided shall not exceed P1,000,000.00 observing a financing mix of 60% (World Bank Loan Proceeds), 20% (Government of the Philippines through the Department of Agriculture), 20% (Local Government Unit Counterpart), and 20% Proponent Group’s equity.

The SLP Implementation Procedures starting from the identification of the subproject, issuance of the No Objection Letter by the Project Support Unit (PSO) and the signing of the Implementation Management Agreement (IMA) were also highlighted with the expectation that as many PGs shall be accommodated.

The deadline for submission for all subproject proposals is set on November 30, 2015.  (Ferdinand C. Narciso, RPCO2 InfoACE)