AGRI CHIEF LEADS TURNOVER OF P549-M PRDP SUBPROJECTS
City of San Fernando, PAMPANGA – Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar led the ceremonial turnover and awarding of some P549 million subprojects under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) to each province in Central Luzon during the Stakeholders’ Forum on November 30, 2019 held at The Orchid Gardens, here.
Attended by key officials from DA, PRDP, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council (RAFC), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) among other local government and partner agencies, the ceremonial turnover is a way to recognize the projects implemented in promoting growth and development in the agriculture sector.
Among the projects were five I-BUILD farm-to-market roads (FMRs) amounting to P535 million and additional 10 I-REAP enterprise projects of P14 million.
Also, 50 Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) bags,8 0 bancas (P3.6 million), mechanical dryers (P11.8 million), 40 units of shallow tube well (P2.94 million) and other farm machineries (P4.11 million) were awarded to farm associations in the region during the forum.
In his speech, Sec. Dar pushes for modernization, industrialization, export promotion, consolidation of small- and medium-sized farms, infrastructure development, higher budget and investment in agriculture, legislative support and road-map development to help augment farmers’ income and to alleviate their current status.
“It’s time to consider agriculture as an industry,” Dar said.
Dar likewise lauded the DA Regional Field Office 3 (RFO 3) headed by Regional Director Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr. for its efforts and hard work to help control the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) that struck the region recently.
“Let’s help the country by doing good,” Dar ended. (Ma. Reina Len Luna, RPCO3 InfoACE)
