The Luzon A Project Support Office (PSO) issued No Objection Letters 1 (NOL1) to 47 Small Livelihood Project (SLP) proposals in the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan last December 8 and 21, 2016.

The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) opened the approval of Small Livelihood Projects (SLPs) to mitigate the effects of Typhoon Lando among farmers in areas which declared a State of Calamity in October 2015, when the typhoon struck Luzon.

There are four types of SLP approved in 2016 in Ilocos Region: Farm Mechanization Service Facility, Corn and Squash Production and Trading Enterprise, Corn and Livestock Integration and Trading Enterprise; and Production of Quality Seed Planting Material for Onions and Shallots.

Among the approved SLPs, the Farm Mechanization Service Facility proposal has the highest number. The Province of Pangasinan has 25 approved Farm Mechanization Service Facility Proposal, La Union has 10, and Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur have 6 each. Under this type of enterprise, the proponent farmer group will receive a four-wheel tractor, rotavator, cage roller, and trailer.

Through the Farm Mechanization Service Facility, proponent farmer groups aim to decrease the cost incurred by farmers in land preparation and hauling. They plan to give the services at a discounted rate to recover a portion of their losses when Typhoon Lando struck.

Most of the SLP Farm Mechanization proposal is now under procurement. In fact, the Province of La Union expects to award nine tractors with complete accessories on or before March 2017, given a successful procurement process.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Unity for Progress Multi-Purpose Cooperative’s Farm Mechanization Service Facility in Natividad, Pangasinan is already for delivery.

The acceptance of proposals for SLPs has officially ended in 2016. The Projects expects the implementation of the approved SLPs starting 2017 onwards. (Ilocos InfoACE)