Agri-fishery infrastructure and enterprises ranging from coconut, banana, abaca, seaweeds and bangus amounting to a total of P102-million are endorsed for funding under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).

After a thorough deliberation, the Caraga Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) approved recently 19 of the SPs are under the Enterprise Development portfolio with a total of P80 million, and another 4 subprojects worth P22.6 million under the Infrastructure Development component.

These include project proposals on Geonet Production and Marketing, Rice Processing and Trading, Seaweeds Production and Marketing, Cardava Production and Marketing, Banana Consolidation and Marketing, Bangus Production and Marketing, and Abaca Production and Marketing.

“The approval means that the subproject proposals are now endorsed for possible funding and will undergo a review process that will compose of PRDP regional, cluster and national components,” said OIC-Regional Executive Director and RPAB Chair Renato Manantan.

Enterprise development projects aim to increase individual incomes of farmers and benefit the various associations and cooperatives.

Manantan emphasized that proponent groups should have the capacity to carry out the projects and ensure its sustainability to get approval from the Board.

“These projects should not only benefit its direct beneficiaries but should also become a venue to enable communities alleviate poverty that even after the Project has ended, people will continue to live and prosper,” Manantan said.

The Municipality of Cortes, the lone proponent for the infrastructure component, received endorsement from the RPAB for its 4 subprojects worth P22.6 million for the construction of 6 watch towers, 9 “papag” dryers, 5 units all-weather dryers, and 1 warehouse with solar dryer.

“These subprojects will not only help our fishers and seaweed farmers but will also sustain the protection of our marine protected areas and fish sanctuaries and would eventually create employment for our people,” said Coastal Resource Management Officer Vincent Dueñas of Cortes, Surigao del Sur.

“These proposals underwent a rigorous process of assessment before they were  presented to RPAB for approval to ensure their purposes are in line with the Project’s objective that includes increasing farmers’ income, productivity, and competitiveness in the countryside,” Manantan said.

After endorsement of the subprojects to the National Program Coordination Office (NPCO) for further evaluation, PGs will have to wait for the No Objection Letter 1 (NOL1) which signals the approval of each proposal. (Emmylou Presilda/DA-Caraga)

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