“We are glad that you did not lose hope.”

That was the key message of Regional Executive Director Vilma M. Dimaculangan, DA-RFO 4A, to four municipalities that presented for the second time their infrastructure project proposals for the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) I-BUILD component.

On May 13, the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) in Quezon City re-endorsed four farm-to-market road (FMR) proposals for the approval of the PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO). The said proposals came from three towns in Quezon Province and from one town in Batangas.

“These [project proposals] had already been endorsed before. However, the amount endorsed was different from what is recommended by the World Bank. Some of which increases while some decreases,” Ms. Teodora G. Mamades, Deputy Regional Project Director of PRDP-RPCO 4A said during her opening remarks.

The concreting of the 10.08 km Sta.Monica–Sto. Niño–San Roque–Manito Station FMR in Tagkawayan, Quezon will serve areas planted with coconut, rice, and citrus as well as connecting the barangays to the national railway system once PNR is operational again. From P167 million, the project was revalued to P107,246,293.35 due to configuration of road easement.

Concreting of San Vicente–Malaya FMR, a 15.454 km road, in General Luna, Quezon will benefit both farmers and fishers from seven barangays. The project cost decreased from P173.5 million to P172,824,272.84 due to changes in slope gradient from 22% to 15% as well as the addition of road signs and fund for health and safety of construction workers.

The construction of 10.48 km Mamala–Taquico–Caldong FMR in Sampaloc, Quezon will create new roads and improve existing concrete, gravel and earth roads. It will serve three barangays in the town to provide faster means of delivery of goods and produce. From P133.14 million, the cost increased to P160,409,994.17 because of road realignment (400 m increase in length), and provision of retaining walls, slope protection structures, and line canals.

In Lobo, Batangas, concreting of Olo-olo–Mabilog na Bundok–Nagtaluntong FMR will help the agricultural communities in the area and have better access to its market. The 8.09 km road project cost is P126,012,688.74 from P123 million due to procurement of bioengineering solutions.

RED Vilma M. Dimaculangan gives an inspirational message and explains why the RPAB will re-endorse the project proposals. (Photo by Bryan G. Arcilla, DA-RFO 4A RAFID)

Aside from Director Dimaculangan, other RPAB members included representatives from the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the private sector represented by the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council chairperson. Representatives from the National Economic and Development Authority also attended as observers.

PRDP is a six-year project designed to establish a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented, and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. With funding support from the World Bank, PRDP is implemented by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with local government units and farmers and fishers organizations. ### (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP RPCO 4A InfoACE Unit)