The Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of CALABARZON recently reviewed and approved six small livelihood projects under the I-REAP or enterprise development component of PRDP.

At least 60 participants attended the RPAB review of I-REAP sub-projects from the typhoon Lando-affected municipalities of Agdangan, Sampaloc, Pagbilao, Guinayangan, Padre Burgos, and Real in Quezon Province.

The RPAB-approved projects include the 1) “Acquisition and Rental of two units Walk Behind Rice Harvester” in Pagbilao worth P900,000.00; 2) “Dried Seaweed Production” in Guinayangan worth P1,189,247.88; 3) “Marine Cage Culture of Grouper (Live Black-Spotted Lapu-lapu)” worth P1,507,563.34; 4) “Honey Bee Production” in Real worth P800,000.00; 5) “Fish Sanctuary  Rehabilitation (Bahurang Silag Fish Sanctuary)” in Guinayangan worth P2,559,886.40; and 6) “Agdangan Seaweeds Farming and Culture” worth P1,167,345.80.

Guinayangan’s Bahurang Silag Fish Sanctuary, aside from being an I-REAP sub-project, is also a project under the Global Environment Facility that aims for the conservation of biodiversity and strengthening of the coastal and marine resources.

The Board also reviewed two enterprise development projects such as the “Establishment of Bamboo Nurseries” in Sampaloc amounting to P843,375.00 and the “Virgin Coconut Oil of Quezon Federation Union of Cooperatives” worth P87,109,691.64. However, the said project proposals were not yet approved due to concerns on the proponent groups’ track record, membership stability and organization structure, coordination with local government offices, and other project specifics.

The Region 4A RPAB, headed by Regional Director Vilma Dimaculangan, is also composed of representatives from other government offices such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agrarian Reform, and the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council.

The approved I-REAP sub-projects will be prepared for the issuance of no objection letters that will serve as a signal for the identified proponent groups to proceed to the procurement process before the actual project implementation. (Minda Tamayo, DA-PRDP RPCO 4A InfoACE Unit, and Mela Bejarin, DA-PRDP PSO South Luzon InfoACE Unit)