The Department of Agriculture Philippine Rural Development Projects (DA-PRDP) allotted P6.14 billion to mobilize the infrastructure and enterprise development projects in Mindanao.

From this amount, P5.77 billion will be spent for the infrastructure development component including construction of farm-to-market roads (FMR), bridges, potable water systems, communal irrigation system, and postharvest facilities.

Recent accomplishment of the infrastructure commonly known as IBUILD or Intensified Building up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development includes completed farm to market road and bridges worth P1.27 B with a total length of 117. 46 km and 69 linear meter bridge; two completed potable water systems (PWS) serving 1,266 households (HH); and three units of postharvest facilities serving 3,000 hectares of farmland.

“These subprojects paved the way to better transportation and better lives among the recipient communities,” said PRDP Deputy Project Director Danilo T. Alesna.

“Before, it takes us an hour to reach town proper to deliver our produce but with the concreted road it only takes us about 20 minutes. Transport of farm inputs and other goods have also become easier and cheaper,” said Fortunato Drocom, Jr., farmer from Songkoy, Kitcharo, Agusan del Norte.

Mindanao cluster’s on-going project worth P4.50 B includes 54 FMRs with total length of 375.88 km; 3 FMR with bridge of 25.06 km and 87.6 LM bridge combine length; 1 PWS serving 390 HH; 1 communal irrigation system serving 100 hectares; and 3 postharvest facilities.

For the enterprise development component or Investment in Rural Enterprise and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivity (IREAP), Mindanao currently has 77 subprojects amounting P365.07 million.

I-REAP focuses on the Mindanao champion commodities particularly abaca, banana, cacao, cassava, coconut, coffee, goat, organic, rice, rubber, seaweeds and swine.

“Farm mechanization is also included in the subprojects to fasten the production and to make the proponent groups fully efficient with machineries,” added Director Alesna.

Region 12 has the highest approved enterprise cost of P123.50 million followed by Region 13 with P71.48 million; Region 10 with P62.10 million; Region 11 with P56.30 million; Region 9 with P28.43 million; and ARMM with P23.26 million.

A total of 285,938 farmers and fisherfolk all over Mindanao are expected to enjoy the benefits of the agri-enterprises.

(Joy M. Montecalvo/ PSO Mindanao)

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