Bicol PRDP’s advisory board okays P20.7M-worth microenterprise sub-projects

Typhoon-affected farmers and fisherfolk in Bicol are expected to recoup from their losses as the Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Project’s (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) approved about P20.7 million-worth of microenterprise (ME) sub-projects proposed by 15 groups of farmers and fisherfolk. The board approved and endorsed the proposals after listening to the presentations of the proponents on May 17, 2016 in Legazpi City.

According to PRDP-Bicol enterprise development (I-REAP) component head Adelina A. Losa, ME sub-projects in calamity-stricken areas aim to provide sustainable income generating activities to farmers and fisherfolk in Bicol whose livelihood were affected by typhoons Lando and Nona in 2015. These provinces include Catanduanes which was hit by typhoon Lando as well as Albay and Sorsogon which were affected by typhoon Nona. She added that RPCO V requested for the PRDP National Office’s approval to include Camarines Sur and Masbate because of the high damage they also incurred based on the Damage Report.

Eleven of the ME sub-projects reviewed, approved, and endorsed for PRDP funding by the RPAB were proposed by groups of farmers and fisherfolk from Sorsogon who will engage in native chicken production, gabi and ginger production and marketing, cottage handicraft industry and cassava chips processing as well as organic vegetable and other foodcrop production and seaweed production and marketing. The said MEs are worth P10.6 million.

“Ito’y unti-unting pagbangon sa kabuhayan ng mga mangingisda para maitaguyod nila ang kanilang pamilya sa pamamagitan ng seaweeds. We hope na mapaunlad namin ito at di masayang ang tiwalang ibinigay ng gobyerno at ng mga taong bahagi ng PRDP,” said Samahang Mangingisda ng Tomalaytay President Roberto A. Salgado, whose P1.2 million-worth Tomalaytay Seaweeds Production and Marketing ME was among those approved by the RPAB for Sorsogon.

Likewise, about P2.9 million-worth of ME sub-projects proposed by the Municipalities of Esperanza and Milagros in Masbate were endorsed by the RPAB. These ME sub-projects will venture in charcoal briquette production and farm mechanization and briquetting of rice hull into charcoal.

Meanwhile, two MEs worth P2.7 million from Gigmoto and Pandan, Catanduanes were also okayed by the RPAB. The said MEs will take on rice production as well as broiler production and marketing.

Moreover, the RPAB gave green light to Albay Small Ruminant Raisers Association (ASRRA)’s proposed P1.3 million-worth Enhancing Farm Capacity and Adoption of Nutrition Technology for Goat Production.

RPAB member Jocelyn Lb. Blanco, regional director of the Department of Trade and Industry, urged the proponent groups to work on the sustainability of the approved microenterprises.

“See it as an opportunity for you to progress. Let your group serve as a vehicle for other organizations to avail the same benefits from the government,” she said.

The RPAB also reviewed, approved and endorsed the Seaweeds Nursery and Production Project proposed by the Biga Farmers and Fishermen Association in Magallanes, Sorsogon. The P3.2 million-worth sub-project is the region’s first Global Environment Facility (GEF)-supported ME designed to contribute to biodiversity conservation and strengthen the coastal and marine resources base in targeted project areas. In Bicol, the Donsol-Ticao-Burias Pass was one of the biodiversity/international waters pre-identified by DA and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as target GEF sites for PRDP. The Project will integrate the P287-million-worth grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), an international organization that helps address global environmental issues, to its institutional reforms.

PRDP South Luzon I-REAP Component Head Manolo Luis Herrera reminded the stakeholders that for a project to be successful, it largely depends on the project proponent or implementors. He adds, “The challenge lies on how they will operationalize their plans.”

The RPAB is an inter-agency multi-disciplinary team composed of DTI, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government and Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council mandated to review and approve plans, feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs and program of works proposed for PRDP funding. It is chaired by the Regional Executive Director of the Department of Agriculture.

PRDP is a six-year project being implemented by the DA designed to establish an inclusive, market-oriented and climate-resilient agri-fishery sector. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)  

Peter Theodore D. Caro (seated, 1^st from left), secretary of the Albay Small Ruminant Raisers Association (ASRRA) provides overview of ASRRA’s proposed microenterprise sub-project to the RPAB. PRDP RPCO V I-REAP Component Head Adelina A. Losa looks on and stands ready to assist the proponent group as they defend their proposals.