DAR seeks $50-M loan from WB

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is negotiating for a $50-million loan agreement with the World Bank (WB) for the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Development Project (ARCDP).

Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza who flew to Washington to lead negotiations said financing phase II of ARCDP is critical to sustaining the gains of phase I of the project.

He said even the WB noted that the ARCDP activities were successful and have led to significant increases in crop yields and agricultural productivity among beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program.

"The ARCDP II aims to consolidate, sustain and broaden the reach of the gains made in community development and also to provide more support services in agrarian reform communities," Braganza said.

Under phase I of the ARCDP, WB released $50 million which went into the construction and rehabilitation of 827 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, upgrading of communal irrigation systems covering 10,000 hectares of land and provision of 97 potable water systems in agrarian reform communities.

The ARCDP is targeting 75,000 farmer-beneficiaries or about 100,000 households in 80 agrarian reform communities spread throughout the country. About 10 provinces will be covered by the proposed second phase of the project.

The project’s other components include other support services such as community development, rural infrastructure, agriculture and enterprise development, rural financial development and subdivision of collective titles. – Rocel Felix