Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. noted that the DA-PRDP “is a huge leap forward to development that forwards the lives of the residents of Negros Occidental.” Photo shows Gov. Marañon exchanges conversation with World Bank Task Team Leader Frauke Jungbluth.

The chief executive of Negros Occidental province lauded the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. said the DA-PRDP has opened opportunities for Negrosanons, particularly the farmers and fisherfolk.

“The [DA] PRDP has provided links between producers to the market because of the access to better and improved roads,” said Marañon. “The residents are already enjoying their impact in many aspects of their day-to-day living.”

Marañon said staff from the province of Negros Occidental spoke with some of the residents who noted that the travel time from Sitio Aluyan in Caduha-an, Cadiz City to the market was reduced.

“From one and a half hours, their travel now only takes twenty minutes. There are no more back-breaking motorcycle rides. This is a welcome development in our aim to better serve the community—by providing them with infrastructure projects they deserve,” said Marañon.

He said some families have built houses along the concrete roads. There are new sari–sari stores, and the number of public transportation increased in the areas.The people of Sitio Vergara, Barangay Bug-ang in Toboso and SitioAluyan, Barangay Caduha-an in Cadiz City are enjoying the convenience of good transportation that were attracted by the newly-constructed roads.

“But the most glaring among the positive impacts of these projects is their impact in education. Because of the better roads, going to school has become easier and more convenient for the teachers and students. Classes in the public elementary school can now begin earlier. School children are now given more quality time for their education,” the governor said.

He also noted that the DA-PRDP “is a huge leap forward to development that forwards the lives of the residents of Negros Occidental.”

“It encompasses all the aspects of the goals we want to achieve. It is also a model among government agencies to operate with integrity and transparency. It eases the huge logistical challenges we face in providing the rural-agro-industrial development support that will raise income, production and competitiveness of the marginal sectors,” he said.

Marañon also vowed to pursue more rural-based projects to ensure that at the end of the Project, the goals of attaining a 30 percent increased income of every stakeholder through infrastructure and local enterprises grow to benefit all sectors. (John Paul F. Cadiz, DA-PRDP RPCO 6, InfoACE)