Kapalong, Davao del Norte – A World Bank (WB) senior official has expressed his admiration of how development projects are being implemented here and and how it has changed the lives of its beneficiaries.

WB World Bank Regional Vice President for East Asia and Pacific Axel van Trotsenburg, who visited WB-assisted projects in Kapalong and Talaingod, Davao del Norte, said that he was impressed “how much they (beneficiaries) can make out of” the little funding assistance given to them.

Trotsenburg was referring to projects implemented under the Department of Agriculture’s – Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP), which include a farm-to-market road (FMR) with bridge component and banana flour processing projects.

“I was impressed at how the projects changed lives for the members of the community. This is actually the World Bank’s satisfying experience, to see that projects can make a big difference in the communities.” He added that the projects empower communities and creates ownership for the projects.

“A simple investment can be extremely important. This is exactly the objective that we can make a small difference in the community,” Trotsenburg said.

MRDP Deputy Director Arnel De Mesa in his report to Trotsenburg said that the FMR with bridge from Barangay Dagohoy, Talaingod to Barangay Semong, Kapalong has benefitted 1,347 households, including indigenous peoples.

“The P10.2-million project enhanced mobility and decreased the travel time of farmers. It also decreased the hauling cost and postharvest losses of farm products,” De Mesa said.

IP farmer Ipos Bodyos of Tibukay village said, “Sangko sa langit ang among pasalamat (Our gratitude is up to the heavens).” He said that he used to walk 15 kilometers carrying their sweet potato, corn products and banana from his farm to the town market.

He used to pay hauling cost of P4 per kilo of corn. With the presence of the FMR and bridge, he was able to save P1 as he now only pays P3 per kilo of corn.

Trotsenburg also lauded the P2-million MRDP assistance  to the AMS Employees Fresh Fruits Producers Cooperative (AMSEFFPCO), which enable the co-op to expand their banana flour processing from feed grade to food grade.

“Instead of producing more feed grade flour, we will now reverse the production to food grade as it is more lucrative,” co-op manager Rizalie Calma said.

“It was a good way looking at the projects and listening where we can be supportive to the Philippines. I saw a lot of enthusiasm and do not want to discourage that. I want to stimulate them to take their own destiny (and) keep up the ambition,” Trotsenburg said while urging beneficiaries to sustain their projects. Noel T. Provido/DA-MRDP.