GMA welcomes larger Japanese role in global scene

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is allocating P1.6 billion as counterpart fund for the implementation of the second phase of the P22-billion Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP).

The MRDP, which is being financed by the World Bank’s Adaptable Program Loan (APL), covers 27 provinces and 225 municipalities in Mindanao.

The MRDP is part of government’s efforts to reduce poverty by 10 percent to 15 percent. Originally, the second phase was envisioned to accommodate a total of 13 provinces only.

The clamor for assistance from the LGUs, however,  was  strong enough to redesign the plan for MRDP to increase its coverage, MRDP deputy program director Arnel de Mesa revealed.

The MRDP addresses four major components for development — capacity building, rural infrastructure, livelihood and programs for sustainable development of natural resources.

The rural infrastructure component covers 2,150 kilometers of roads for  rehabilitation or construction. For implementation this year  are road projects covering 71 kilometers at a cost of around P128 million.

The Philippines received satisfactory rating from the WB for the successful implementation of MRDP I.

MRDP director and DA Region IX director Roger Chio said about P1 billion worth of infrastructure projects and P200 million worth of livelihood programs were financed under MRDP 1.

MRDP I started in 2000 and covered five provinces and 32 municipalities.

Completed projects under phase I included 700 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, nine single lane bridges, 43 irrigation systems and 28 units of potable water facilities.