Ten projects from the Quezon province received on April 20 endorsement from the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) during its review of PRDP I-REAP or enterprise development sub-projects  at the DA-RFO 4-A in Quezon City.

All small enterprise development sub-project proposals from Real, Quezon received the nod of RPAB. These sub-projects included the “Quail Egg Production” of the Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Magniniyog ng Maragondon, Tanauan, at Tignoan worth P502,091.20; the “Fish Catching, Marketing, and Tinapa Processing” of the Samahan ng Mangingisda ng Barangay Malapad, Lubayat, at Pandan worth P788,770.00; and the “Native Pig Production and Dispersal” of the Rural Improvement Club of Real worth P289,670.00.

The said small enterprise projects were crafted to help calamity-stricken areas recover from damages and to provide new opportunities to agricultural associations and cooperatives. Aside from Quezon, other provinces in region 4A are also identified as typhoon Lando-affected areas and are eligible for PRDP support.

“We are happy that all projects were endorsed. This will assist us convince others that what we are offering to them is real and can be done,” said Evangeline Paril, Municipal Agriculturist of Real, Quezon. Another project (honeybee production worth P800,000.00) from the municipality has already been approved for endorsement earlier this year.

Six of seven projects from Tayabas City got the unanimous endorsement from the board. These include the “Native Chicken Production” of the 4-H club worth P703,930.00; the “Cattle Dispersal Project” of the Tayabas Federation of Farmers’ Association worth P1,369,560.00; the “Guyabano Puree Processing” of the Mangosteen Producers of Tayabas Association Inc. worth P1,177,097.86; the “Rice Milling Center” of the Gibanga Rice Planters Association, Inc. worth P671,332.00; the “Native Pig Production” of the Tayabas Federation of Rural Improvement Club Inc. worth P953,250.00; and the “Tilapia Production and Marketing” of the Tayabas Fishery – Aquaculture Association Inc. worth P761,200.00.

“This will help us in our goal in reaching out more youth about opportunities in agriculture,” said Evangeline Roxas, Tayabas City’s 4-H coordinator. “From this project, we hope that other agricultural barangays in our city will be inspired to establish 4-H clubs. The future of agriculture rest in the hands of the youth.”

Meanwhile, the “Corn Production Plant Now Pay later Project” proposal from the Calumpang Corn Grower Association received a conditional endorsement due to concerns regarding the proponent group’s project counterpart.

The comments and suggestions raised during the review will be used to refine the projects by the proponent groups before presenting to the South Luzon Project Support Office for its approval.

The RPAB members present during the deliberation were Regional Director Vilma Dimaculangan and representatives from the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Trade and Industry, and the private sector represented by the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council chairperson.

PRDP is a six-year project designed to establish a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. With funding support from the World Bank, PRDP is implemented by the Department of Agriculture in partnership with local government units and farmers and fishers organizations. ### (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP RPCO 4A InfoACE Unit)