“I have assured your governor that we will give attention and support to the subprojects lined up with PRDP.”

Sec. William Dar delivering his speech at the turnover ceremony for the “Construction of Five Units Warehouse with Solar Dryer” PRDP subproject in Marapat, Davao de Oro. In picture from left to right are Regional Executive Director of Department of Agriculture Region XI and Project Director for PRDP Mindanao Ricardo M. Oñate Jr. and Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy.

This was the statement made by Department of Agriculture Secretary William “Manong Willie” Dar at the turn over ceremony for the P26.75 million “Construction of Five Units Warehouse with Solar Dryer” subproject at the warehouse site in Marapat, Davao de Oro. The infrastructure subproject is implemented under the Intensified Building up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-BUILD) component of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). Present at the turn-over ceremony were Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, Davao de Oro Municipal Mayor Lema Bolo and Regional Executive Director of Department of Agriculture Region XI and Project Director for PRDP Mindanao Ricardo M. Oñate Jr., Usec. Roldan Gorgonio, Usec for Admin and Finance, Asec. Noel Reyes, Asst. Secretary for Communications and Media Affairs, as well as members of the five cooperative recipients of the infrastructure subproject.

In his speech, Secretary Dar reiterated the Department of Agriculture’s continued commitment to partner with the leadership of the local governments in Davao Region for the continued growth of agriculture in the country. While agriculture was the only sector that gained positive growth in the second quarter, Secretary Dar encouraged everyone to continue in their hard work.

“You farmers and fisherfolk are the frontliners who worked hard even during the lockdown,” Dar said.

With two or three months still left before the year ends, Dar emphasized the department’s aim of elevating the food sufficiency level of various communities so that even in the midst of the pandemic, there will be enough food for Filipinos.

“We are happy with what is happening in Davao de Oro and we want agriculture in this province to move up,” Dar added.

Sec. Dar at the groundbreaking and capsule laying ceremonies at the site of the milk processing facility at Nabunturan Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative (NAFAMCO). With him in picture from left to right are Usec. for Admin and Finance Roldan Gorgonio, Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, Regional Executive Director of Department of Agriculture Region XI Ricardo M. Oñate Jr. and Asst. Secretary for Communications and Media Affairs Noel Reyes.

Secretary Dar also took part in the groundbreaking and capsule laying at the site of the proposed dairy processing facility at Nabunturan Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative (NAFAMCO) which will be part of PRDP’s P18.83 million “Cow’s Milk Processing & Marketing Enterprise” subproject under its Investment in Rural Enterprise and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (I-REAP) component. He hopes that this subproject can help in raising the levels of dairy production in the country.

Sec. Dar inspects the communal dairy farm at Nabunturan Farmers’ Multipurpose Cooperative (NAFAMCO) with Davao de Oro Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, & Regional Executive Director of Department of Agriculture Region XI & PRDP Mindanao Project Director Ricardo M. Oñate Jr.

Dar hailed PRDP, which is jointly funded by the World Bank, as being one of the best examples of multi-sectoral, multi-level partnerships of the Department of Agriculture. (Joseph John Palarca | PSO Mindanao)