The CALABARZON Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) approved P77.75 million-worth of new infrastructures and enterprises in Laguna and Quezon on December 8.

“With these new subprojects, we will be able to uplift the lives of residents in the countryside. Let us work hard to make this possible,” Department of Agriculture CALABARZON Regional Executive Director and RPAB Chairperson Arnel de Mesa said.

The Board approved the Level II Potable Water System subproject proposal of the Municipal Government of Pangil, Laguna. Worth P55 million, the subproject aims to rehabilitate and construct additional pipelines for the town’s existing water network that will benefit the community.

The banana growers of San Francisco, Quezon will soon have a production and trading business with the assistance of the Quezon Provincial Government. To be managed by the San Francisco Banana Growers Association, the “San Francisco Banana Production and Marketing” subproject worth P3.73 million will help the 35 proponent group members market their products to bigger markets in Metro Manila.

A cluster of five seaweed growers’ associations in the towns of Burdeos, Panukulan, and Polillo in Quezon will also establish a production and trading business. Led by the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Bagong Silang of Burdeos, Quezon with the support of the provincial government, the “Seaweeds Production and Marketing” enterprise will help them market dried seaweeds to export processors. Worth P19 million, the enterprise will benefit 196 proponent group members.

Aside from the new subprojects, the Board also approved the variation order for the Farm-to-Market Road of Buenavista, Quezon. worth P13.8 million, it will be used to finance additional work items such as excavation and embankment, duration of work, and contract cost.

The RPAB members present during the meeting include Director Arsenio Tanchuling of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources CALABARZON and Chairperson Pedrito Kalaw of Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Council. Other representatives were from the regional offices of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Public Works and Highways. ### (Lawrence Albert A. Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)

Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Maria Paz G. Santos of Pangil, Laguna presented the plans for the municipal potable water system (PWS) proposal in front of the Regional Project Advisory Board. This will be the third PWS in the province of Laguna and in the whole region.