Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. (2nd from left) with (l-r) Provincial Board Member Victor Javellana, SP Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Regional Executive Director Larry Nacionales and DA’s National Deputy Director Arnel de Mesa at the Local Chief Executive (LCE) Orientation on Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) Operations Manual and Value Chain Analysis on Muscovado Sugar at Bacolod Pavilion Hotel. Gov. Marañon expressed his support to President Aquino’s programs on agriculture. Negros Occidental is the pilot province in Western Visayas and third in the country to be the recipient of this program, aimed at alleviating poverty and unemployment problem in the rural areas PRPD to boost organic agriculture program in NegOcc
Being chosen as a priority province by the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP), Negros Occidental is expected to develop and strengthen its advocacy and interventions in the organic agriculture program.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for us to feed the whole country. Let the PRDP be a model for all provinces because this will help the underprivileged solve poverty and generate more employment for Negros Occidental,” Provincial Governor Alfredo G. Marañon told Capitol executives and Department of Agriculture (DA) officials headed by Regional Executive Director Larry P. Nacionales.
The PRDP is a platform that calls for an inclusive, value chain-oriented and climate-oriented agriculture and fisheries sectors. Using the $500 million fund from the World Bank through a 15-year old loan agreement, the national government extended grants for agricultural enhancement programs of qualified local government units (LGUs), press release said.
Negros Occidental was the only LGU in the Visayas cluster chosen as pilot area with muscovado as a priority commodity for development, said Marlin Sanogal, the Negros Occidental Provincial Planning and Development Officer.
Gov. Marañon told provincial agriculturist Engr. IgmedioTabianan, Dir. Nacionales, Dir. Arnel De Mesa and ShandyHubilla of the Office of the DA Secretary that rice self-sufficiency remains to be his top priority.
