The semestral World Bank implementation support mission for the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) for North Luzon cluster was successfully held on November 14-16, marking the second leg of the Bank’s visit to the four clusters in the country.

Hosted by the Cordillera Administrative Region, the activity was held to assess the progress of selected subprojects of the region, which will aide the Project implementers in maintaining the capability, effectiveness and efficiency of PRDP’s implementation.

Lead Agriculture Economist Frauke Jungbluth, the task team leader for the mission stated that with the current stage of the Project, results and impact should now be given more attention rather than the implementation itself.

“We are looking for more results as an evidence, so we can implement more,” she said. Jungbluth was also the task team leader for the previous support mission held last April.

PRDP North Luzon way forward

Luzon A Cluster Project Director Andrew Villacorta presented the cluster-wide updates during the kick-off meeting. As of October 31, 12 Value Chain Analyses have been approved; a huge jump from the four VCAs approved last April. All 22 provinces all have Provincial Development Council (PDC)-approved Provincial Commodity Investment Plans (PCIP).

Under the Infrastructure Component, it was reported that the cluster have a share of P11.76 billion in its portfolio, a 10% increase from the April support mission. Among the four regions, CAR had the biggest increase in portfolio, from P3.5 billion to P4.96 billion, accounting for a 41% increase.

The total number of I-BUILD subprojects has gone up to 199. Of these, three are successfully completed, 14 are under implementation and 83 are under procurement.

For PRDP’s Enterprise Component, 319 subprojects have been identified amounting to P515.35 million. 86 of these are approved and issued with the No Objection Letter 1, 79 are endorsed for NOL issuance, 122 are approved by the Regional Project Advisory Board and 32 are under business plan preparation.

Better roads and facilities for the coffee farmers

The Kalinga Integrated Coffee Processing and Marketing Enterprise in Tabuk, Kalinga was the I-REAP subproject personally visited and assessed by the review team from the World Bank, national, regional and project support offices.

Part of the activity was the business plan presentation led by Mr. Bernard Dulyongan, BOD member of the Dupligan Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Simultaneously, the 15.8 kilometer Bulanao – Amlao Farm to Market Road was also visited by which numerous findings and observations were recorded by the I-BUILD team, as well as their corresponding recommendations.

Kalinga Governor Jocel Baac who graced the event expressed support with the implementation of the PRDP.

“All kinds of economic activities will follow if a proper road will be introduced. This way we can encourage farmers to grow more agriculture products,” said Governor Baac.

PRDP is a DA special project that aims to establish a modern climate-smart, market oriented agri-fishery sector. The Project is jointly funded by the World Bank, the National Government and the Local Government Units (LGUs). (Kayla Arceo, PSO InfoACE)

(L-R) PRDP Rural Infrastructure Engineers Denver Bandao, Shiedel Delicano, Ayson Romero, together with World Bank RIE Raoul Azanza (middle), Road and Bridge Specialist Engr. Dennis Flores (in blue, right side) and Project Engineer James Cadiogan (in black, far right) jointly assess the Bulanao- Amlao farm to market road during their visit on the 2nd day of the World Bank Implementation Support Mission.

Members of the Gawidan Malin-awaan Marketing Cooperative present the process of coffee making to WB Task Team Leader Frauke Jungbluth, Economist Luningning Bondoc and RED Lorenzo Caranguian.