Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala witnesses the signing of the Implementation Management Agreement of the P39-million cassava chips and granules processing project, of the Polo Samahang Nayon (SN) of Polomolok, South Cotabato, lodged as one of the very first projects under the Mindanao Cluster of Philippine Rural Development Project. Alcala, in his message, urged the Polo SN and the Regional Field Office of DA in Region XII to look into the possible insertion of companion crops in between cassava plants, such as peanut and ginger, to maximize production and provide additional income to cassava farmers. Also in photo are (seated) DA-XII Executive Director Amalia Datukan, PRDP’s Luth Satore, Vice Governor Cecile Diel, (standing) Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Vicente de Jesus, and Provincial Accountant Alvin Batol. (Photo by Alan Jacalan) Gov’t urge LGUs to lodge more projects under rural dev’t program
“The Department of Agriculture thru the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) may request additional funding from the World Bank as projects in the pipeline have already reached P13-billion (B),” according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.
“The approved projects have reached P5.3 B, and more local government units want to be included,” he said.
“We still have to see, how much more will be needed by the LGUs based on their project proposals before we send our request to the WB,” he said. “We may be requesting not less than USD500 million from them.”
The agri chief further stated that the WB was very happy with the turn-out of the PRDP, as it received a positive and very satisfactory review during a mission conducted in February.
“We urge the LGUs to partner with us and submit a business plan of your priority commodity,” Alcala said at the sidelines of his field visit in Davao City on March 5, 2015.
The Davao City government is currently preparing documents and other pertinent requirements in line with their commodity investment plan for cacao.
“Maganda po itong proyekto na ito ng PRDP kaya marapat lamang na makilahok tayong lahat para naman po tayong lahat ay sabay-sabay na uunlad,” he added.
PRDP, an off-shoot of the successful Mindanao Rural Development Program, seeks to bring agricultural innovations in communities across the nation, to improve the farming and fishing sectors, produce quality and competitive products and increase productivity and income of agricultural laborers.
While in Davao, Alcala and Senate Chair for Agriculture and Food Cynthia Villar, distributed various farm machineries and equipment amounting to P127.4 million.
The packages of assistance, distributed to organized groups and farm associations, are part of the government’s efforts to mechanize the rural agri sector in preparation for the upcoming integration under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
In his message, Alcala stressed “the government is serious in modernizing the farm sector to cope with the AEC and gain competitive advantage among other ASEAN regions.”
Farm machineries distributed include mechanized threshers, tillers, hand tractors, combine harvesters, and corn shellers among others. # # # (Adora Rodriguez,DA-AFID)
