As a precedent step to advance the proposed subprojects under the enterprise component or I-REAP, subject for funding under the Second Additional Financing, the Department of Agriculture- Philippine Rural Development Project – Regional Project Coordination Office 6 (DA- PRDP RPCO 6) held a Technical Review with the Industry Experts in Talisay, Negros Occidental on November 24-26, 2021.

The three subprojects that have undergone assessments are as follows: (i) Oyster Production and Processing Enterprise, (ii) Goat Breeding and Marketing Enterprise, and (iii) Native Chicken Production and Marketing Enterprise.

Industry expert from Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) Marinelle Espino, shared her expertise on the Oyster Production and Processing Enterprise. Meanwhile, Wilmer Dela Cerna from the DA-Livestock Program imparted his proficiency for the Goat and Native Chicken Enterprises.

“After this activity, the respective groups concerned shall submit all the compliances based on the comments of the industry experts so their documents could eventually be subjected to Joint Technical Review (JTR),” said Anne Pauline Huele, RPCO 6 Business Development Officer.

Moreover, Huele said the activity will further gear up the groups with knowledge to proceed with the materialization of their project proposals that are included in the Second Additional Financing (AF2) for PRDP under the retrofitted $280 million with 18.3 million EU Co-Financing Grant.

The activity is joined by the representatives from the Social and Environmental Safeguards Unit; Economics Team; I-BUILD Component; Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, and the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit (PPMIU), lead proponent groups from various provinces such as Altavas Small Fisherman’s Association for oyster commodity, Multi Sectoral Alliance for Development (MUAD-Negros) for goat, and Victor U. Lopez Agrarian Reform Cooperative for the native chicken, have joined the almost week-long consultation. (April Grace Padilla, Writer, RPCO6)