The Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) of Western Visayas recently held a virtual deliberation and review of various proposed subprojects of the Department of Agriculture- Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) with estimated total cost amounting to P687,341,507.76 on May 20, 2021.

Spearheaded by the RPAB Chairman and Project Director of Project Support Office (PSO) Visayas, Remelyn R. Recoter, four proposed abattoirs and one farm-to-market road with bridges were presented and deliberated. After approval from the RPAB, these subprojects advance for endorsement to the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) and be able to secure a fair chance for funding this year.

“As we are now anticipating the second additional financing of PRDP amounting to US$280 million retrofitted budget with EUR18.3 million E.U. co-financing grant, we aim to cater the proposals of LGUs and endorse them to the NCPO,” said Recoter.

“The RPAB meeting is very significant as we were able to review the five proposed subprojects in the region with respect to the timeline that was set by the national office,” she added.

The five infrastructure development subprojects presented by the respective local government unit (LGUs) are as follows:

– Establishment of Roxas City Abattoir (Capiz)
– Establishment of Oton Abattoir (Iloilo)
– Establishment of Concepcion Abattoir (Iloilo)
– Establishment of Hinoba-an Abattoir (Negros Occidental)
– Construction/ Concreting of Manika- Oyang- Dalagsaan FMR with Bridges (Aklan)

Composing the RPAB team who tackled the significant aspects and gave comments relevant to the presentations are the representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Agrarian Reform, and National Meat Inspection Service.

More projects that are bound to be lined up for the anticipated additional financing of the DA-PRDP are also presented to the board.

Director Recoter lauded the LGUs for answering the call of fostering agri-fishery sector in their respective towns and provinces. In capping the meeting, she also expressed her gratefulness to the members of the RPAB for the continuous support with the agency’s projects focused on the welfare of the farmers and fishers in the region.

The five subprojects presented are now set to be endorsed to the NPCO subject for issuance of No Objection Letter (NOL) 1