HOG FATTENING. The Hog Fattening and Trading Project in Geratag provides three piglets each to farmer-members of the Geratag Farmers Association. This subproject intends to help the farmers gain additional income aside from farming which is their primary means of support. PRDP in Northern Samar: Changing social landscapes, changing lives
Northern Samar, the last frontier of world biodiversity is also one of the last frontiers of rebellion, poverty and political dynasty.
But with the changed political landscape in 2013, new synergy of reforms has taken over with Gov. Jose L. Ong Jr. as the lead in multisectoral efforts to combat poverty in the province.
In 2013, confident of the new administration’s trust to good governance, World Bank’s Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) has chosen the Province as one of launching pad of its comprehensive anti-poverty programs.
Northern Samar as an identified red area by PAG-ASA for its typhoon frequency map, an area or location where based from PAG-ASA typhoon tracking study for 60 years, an average of three typhoons in two years hit or passes. Given this kind of situation, provinces in red areas should be given priority by the National Government. These areas must be assisted with livelihood projects and sturdy infrastructures since the residents depend so much in agriculture.
“Governor Ong’s marching order is to provide livelihood projects for the marginalized fisherfolks and farmers and PRDP’s programs are very much aligned with this order,” said Provincial Information Officer Rei Josiah Echano.
At present, the province of Northern Samar has ongoing subprojects under PRDP including the Hog Fattening and Trading Project in Brgy.Geratag, San Jose, Northern Samar and Brgy.Bagasbas, Mondragon, Northern Samar, and in Brgy. Bonifacio, Allen, Northern Samar, which intends to help the farmers to find other sources of income aside from its main livelihood which is farming.
COCO GEONETS. The Northern Samar Coco Geonets Processing & Trading Enterprise engages in the production and consolidation of coco geonets that will be produced through the establishment of three multi-purpose livelihood centers in selected coconut-producing municipalities of Northern Samar.
Certainly with these projects, Northern Samar’s plight as one of the most impoverished province will be erased in due time sans politicking in its implementation. PRDP’s economic formula and its technical assistance will come into full play to help us rescue the Province of Northern Samar from abyss of economic backwardness. (Josiah Echano, PPMIU Northern Samar)
