The Philippine Government was represented by Secretary Dante B. Canlas of the Socio-Economic Planning and NEDA director general and Jose Ma. Laberne, representing the Spanish Government and coordinator general of Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional (AECI).
The Food Sufficiency Program was endorsed by the Caraga Regional Development Council (RDC) as priority project for the region to be implemented by NEDA. It will be implemented in two phases: Phase I will be implemented from July 2002 to July 2003 and Phase 2 from July 2003 to July 2005.
Part of the activities is the establishment of the Farm Level Grains Centers (FLGCs) in the municipalities of Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, Prosperidad and Sta. Josefa, all in Agusan del Sur.
Farm Level Grains Centers will be equipped with mechanical dryers, rice mills, moisture meters, hauling trucks and other equipment necessary for packaging and handling milled rice. It also includes the establishment of warehouses with mechanical driers and the provision of operating capital for the partner cooperatives.
The program also involves the construction of ice plants and cold storage facilities as well as administrative building with market center in the capital town of Tandag, Surigao del Sur.
Another component is the strengthening of people’s organizations as partners of the project. — Ben Serrano