Activities at the Regional Project Coordination Office 1 (RPCO 1) continue despite the imposition of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to prevent the further spread of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the entire Luzon.

RPCO 1 resorted to holding virtual meetings and online joint reviews with partner local government units (LGUs), the Luzon A Project Support Office, and National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) during the ECQ. Aside from employing online meetings, RPCO 1 also strictly adhered to the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Emerging Contagious Diseases protocols in social distancing and wearing of facemasks.

The Investments for Building Up of Infrastructure and Logistics Development (IBUILD) Component of RPCO 1 saw to the successful issuance of No Objection Letter 2 for the biggest infrastructure in Ilocos Region under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).  despite the odds and circumstances. Thus, the Province of Ilocos Sur can now proceed with the award and implementation of the Php220-million Rehabilitation of Pug-os-Nagcullooban Farm to Market Road in the Municipality of Cabugao.

Given that the pandemic fully halted the physical progress of infrastructure subprojects under the PRDP, the RPCO 1 focused on facilitating and expediting the disbursement of billings for previous physical progress of subprojects.

Meanwhile, under the Enterprise Component, the pandemic brought good business to some proponent groups. The restriction in transportation prevented the influx of imported agricultural products giving proponent groups the opportunity to dominate local markets. For instance, the Pasuquin Onion Growers Agriculture Cooperative (POGAC) made significant profit margin in selling their onion produce amid the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The Department of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar’s pronouncement on patronizing local produce by LGUs also helped farmer proponent groups. Most LGUs in Ilocos Region sourced vegetables and agricultural produce from local farmers and distributed food packs among their constituents.

Committed to achieve the goal of building climate-smart infrastructures and establishing market-oriented, the RPCO 1 will continue to partner with the national and cluster offices and the LGUs in serving Filipino farmers as the country transitions into a new normal. (Dessa Estrada, RPCO1 InfoACE)