The Regional Project Coordination Office 1 (RPCO 1), led by Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Valentino C. Perdido, briefed the newly elected Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) officials and their staff members on the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) at the Diego Silang Hall, Provincial Capitol of La Union, on August 2, 2016.

After the May 2016 national elections, many local government units are under new administration. With this, RPCO 1 saw the need to conduct Project Orientation/Brief with newly elected officials to encourage them to participate in the PRDP. The cooperation of local government units’ (LGU) officials are needed to implement PRDP subprojects as the project employs counter-parting scheme.

“We are partners,” said La Union’s newly-elected Gov. Francisco Emmanuel R. Ortega III during his welcome speech to the staff members of PRDP. Gov. Ortega wants to bring about real change in the Province of La Union through the pursuit of sustainable agriculture and resilient infrastructure, and combatting climate change. Also, he aims to develop the local economy of La Union by transforming the province into the heart of agri-tourism in Northern Luzon.  He added that there are many opportunities to achieve this goal through the PRDP.

Upon the presentation of PRDP goals, approaches, organizational structure and composition by RPCO 1 I-SUPPORT Head Sharon Viloria, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Members raised inquiries on the identification of infrastructure subproject sites and the prioritization of commodities.

The PRDP utilizes several tools like the Value Chain Analysis (VCA), the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP), the Expanded Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment (EVSA) and the Geo-tagging Technology to identify subproject sites. Likewise, the priority commodities in PRDP emanate from the Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP).

Moreover, to inspire the PGLU officials to support and participate in the PRDP, a video presentation of the on-going implementation of the Rehabilitation of the Balecbec-Basca Farm to Market Road was showcased. The infrastructure subproject is the first of its kind in Ilocos Region and is located in the Municipalities of Naguilian and Aringay, La Union.

Meanwhile, regular DA programs were also presented to PGLU officials and their staff members by Planning & Monitoring Evaluation (PMED) Chief Ms. Doris Joy Garcia.

In the next days, the RPCO 1 will also conduct PRDP Orientation/Brief with newly elected officials of other provinces in the Ilocos Region. (Ilocos InfoACE)