Naval, Biliran – As more local government units are working to avail of funding support from the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP), the provincial government of Biliran recently stepped in with greater interest for the project.

On August 27, 2015, a briefing on PRDP was conducted in Naval, Biliran spearheaded by the PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office-8 which ended up with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement.

In his message, DA8’s Regional Executive Director Leo P. Cañeda said, “As we look at sustaining the gains this province was able to achieve especially in terms of agricultural development and in poverty reduction, with more reason that it needs to avail of PRDP.” He adds, “This will open up opportunities for municipalities within the province to access funds from the project for their various infrastructure and livelihood sub projects in order to sustain uptrend in its growth areas.”

Unlike other local government units however, which came way earlier to join in the project and were fortunately able avail of exemptions from coming up with Value Chain Analysis and Priority Commodity Investment Plans (PCIP),  the province of Biliran will now need to comply with the usual requirements for any sub projects that it might enrol under the PRDP.

As part of the preparations for the full-swing implementation of the project, Governor Hon. Gerardo J. Espina, Jr. shall spearhead the creation of the Provincial Program Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) and the Provincial Core Planning Team (PCPT) for the PRDP. He also expressed willingness to provide counterpart funds which will be required for the sub projects that will be implemented in the province.

PRDP is a six-year program (2014-2021) designed to establish the government platform for a modern, climate-smart and market-oriented agri-fishery sector.  It seeks to improve agricultural competitiveness and expand market access for any identified priority commodities under the project. (RGMacapañasInfoACE RPCO 8)