Two infrastructures to support enterprise subprojects in Quezon province will soon start its construction as the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in CALABARZON region conducted its first virtual pre-construction conference last July 21.

The two Enterprise Development (I-REAP) component subprojects that underwent this online activity were the “Lopez Tablea Production” subproject of the Cacao Growers Association of Lopez and the “Seaweeds Production and Marketing in Perez, Quezon” subproject of the Pambayang Pederasyon ng mga Mangingisda sa Bayan ng Perez. Both subprojects were funded in partnership with the provincial government of Quezon.

“We want our partners from the local government unit (LGU) and proponent groups to see that despite the ongoing community quarantines in the country, the PRDP continues to provide and do the necessary things and activities to ensure that their projects will continue progressively,” said Richmond Pablo, Enterprise Development and Marketing Specialist of PRDP CALABARZON Regional Project Coordination Office.

Technical personnel from different components and units of PRDP CALABARZON and South Luzon Project Support Office were present during the online activity. Other participants include the proponent groups, provincial government, municipal governments of Lopez and Perez, E.A. Saguid Construction for the Lopez subproject, and Zelan Construction and Supply for the Perez subproject.

This conference allows those involved, particularly the contractors, to know the technical standards as well as the processes that the PRDP requires in implementing this kind of interventions. The components and units which discussed the particular requirements, processes, and responsibilities included Infrastructure Development (I- BUILD) Component, Finance Unit, Geomapping and Governance Unit, and Procurement Unit.

The P4.34 million Tablea processing facility, to be located in Lopez, Quezon, is part of the bigger P6.04 million enterprise package that will support increased production of Tableas in the town. It will support 58 members of the association.

For the seaweeds drying facility in Perez, Quezon, it will cost P4.01 million and will provide the 120 members of the federation to have better drying area for their seaweeds. Including the other materials and goods to be procured for the enterprise, its total cost will be P10.18 million. (Lawrence Albert A. Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)