DA: Visayas meet to focus on PRDP implementation

CEBU, Philippines - The regional Department of Agriculture will discuss issues on the implementation of the Philippine Rural Development Project during its Visayas cluster meeting next week.

The World Bank, the main fund source of PRDP, recently started its review missions on the project after it was officially launched last Jan. 20.

"Next week in Iloilo will be the meeting of Visayas cluster to discuss comments, issues, observations and recommendations of the World Bank after the recently concluded WB mission," DA-7 agribusiness chief Gerry Avila told The FREEMAN.

Last month, the mission for the Visayas cluster was made in Bacolod where WB consultants, agriculture officials and people from PRDP's national and regional project coordination offices met to set directions for the project, Avila said.

The Washington-based lender has looked into the progress pace of the execution of PRDP's enterprise development and infrastructure projects.

Last year, the Philippine government and the WB signed a P27.5-billion loan agreement for the project to drive up rural income and enhance farm and fishery productivity.

The project also aims to scale up support for development and job creation in the countryside.

Under the PRDP, local government units would have specific sub-projects to support infrastructure expansion in product value chains.

But Avila claimed no concrete project proposals from regions 7 and 8 have been submitted yet. That's why, he said, they hope to discuss the issues and problems that affect the project's implementation during next week's meeting.

The WB is said to be very strict in the process of going through project plans to ensure only the right investments in priority areas.

One challenge, the official also cited, is looking for project proponents who have both financial and management capabilities.

The six-year rural project finances as many sub-project proposals that LGUs and farmers' and fisher folks' groups can endorse.

In an earlier interview, National Economic and Development Authority-7 Director Efren Carreon called LGUs, farmers' groups and private sector players to fast track the submission of plans for rural development.

Noting the project is demand-driven, he said proposals are needed to use the fund for which the country is paying interest to the WB. 

As of end last year, the agriculture agency said the project has engaged 66 provinces and 29 of them already have Provincial Commodity Investment Plan. — Carlo S. Lorenciana (FREEMAN)