PILI, CAMARINES SUR – Building up cooperatives and focusing on priority commodities. These are the development thrusts of the newly-elected local chief executive (LCE) of Pandan, Catanduanes, Mayor Honesto Tabligan II.

He saw a connectivity between his development plan and the Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) development objectives.

After listening to the discussion on the PRDP Orientation Meeting, he knew it is time to signify his intent to partner with the Project.

“Nakita ko yung financial leverage. Kasi in partnership with PRDP, equity lang ang kailangan ko. Parehas yung objective natin eh, para mag-grow yung economy at matulungan rin yung mga farmers and fisherfolk, doon din ako nag-align, (In partnership with PRDP, I saw financial leverage. What I need is equity and justifications for it. We have a common objective – to help grow the economy and the farmers and fisherfolk),” said Tabligan.

Tabligan, was among the five LCEs who attended the second batch of the said orientation meeting on July 16, 2019, at the Department of Agriculture Regional Office, this municipality. Nineteen local government units (LGUs) region-wide were present in the activity, which aims to provide an overview of the entire Project, its policies and guidelines specific to each of its components.

During the meeting, PRDP-Bicol Rural Infrastructure Engineer, Engr. Joel Catimbang, and Business Development Officer, Glenn Balana discussed to the Municipal Agricultural Officers, Planning Officers, Municipal Engineers, Cooperative Development Officers and Community Organizers the updates, process flow, documentary and eligibility requirements as well as menu of subprojects available under PRDP’s infrastructure (I-BUILD) and enterprise (I-REAP) development components.

The participants were also oriented about the PRDP’s Investments in Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan Planning at the Local and National Levels Component and some units under the Project Implementation Support Component, namely SES, Procurement and Finance.

Further, the team introduced to the attendees the Applied Geotagging Tool which is used in the subproject supervision and quality monitoring.

Tabligan added that he appreciated the Project’s holistic approach to development. With the Project, he discovered an opportunity to improve the accessibility of six abaca-producing barangays in his municipality, which remain inaccessible up to now.

DA-Bicol Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations and Extension and PRDP-Bicol Deputy Project Director, Adelina Losa, encouraged the LGU participants to submit I-BUILD and I-REAP subproject proposals which will be funded under the additional financing and Foreign Exchange Gain Budget, and original loan, respectively.

She guaranteed that PRDP organic and hired consultants will be available to assist them in preparing the Project’s documentary requirements.

Local government units who are interested to engage in PRDP are required to submit an Letter of Intent and subproject briefs addressed to the DA-Bicol Regional Executive Director not later than July 31, 2019.

“I’m signifying [to partner with PRDP],” Mayor Tabligan affirmed. “We will push through, both I-BUILD and I-REAP. Nakita ko na maganda yung project, maganda yung patutunguhan, tapos may purpose, may control. Actually, our community is ready to move forward ‘coz they’ve been exposed to alternative livelihood interventions sa DSWD, DOLE, and DTI. Ang kailangan nila is capitalization. (We will push through, both I-BUILD and I-REAP. I was convinced that the Project is good. It has direction, purpose, and control. Actually, our community is ready to move forward because it has already been exposed to alternative livelihood interventions from DSWD, DOLE, and DTI. What they need is capitalization.)”

“Ang pagpasok ng PRDP is very timely na iga-guide lang ang mga tao na ito tapos tutulungan doon sa capitalization nila and then imo-monitor ng I-REAP group. Malaki ang potential, (Our possible partnership with PRDP is very timely to guide these people and provide them with investment capital that will be monitored by the I-REAP group. I see great potential.)” he added.  ### (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-RAFIS V)