PRDP MAY BE EXTENDED TO 2024

The World Bank will be funding $280 million to the Philippine Rural Development of the Philippines (PRDP) in the next six years

The World Bank said that they will approve this two-year extension from 2020, the PRDP will end by 2022. But with the insertion now of the remaining $280 million, it means another time to implement those projects ENGINEER DANILO T. ALESNA Mindanao deputy project director of PRDP

With more funding from the World Bank, the Philippine Rural Development of the Philippines (PRDP), a six year (2014-2020) national development platform is expected to be extended until 2024, a government official said.

“So there will be an extension of the project. That's still a request as of now. And the World Bank said that they will approve this two-year extension from 2020, the PRDP will end by 2022. But with the insertion now of the remaining $280 million, it means another time to implement those projects. And they are working on it as to when to release the fund,” Engineer Danilo T. Alesna, Mindanao deputy project director of PRDP said yesterday in a media forum, adding that it may take another additional two years to implement the projects under the $280-million fund.

“It's not easy to implement that in a very short span of time, so maybe if this will be approved, then we can extend until 2024,” Alesna said.

Alesna added the $280 million funding is supposed to be allocated for the infrastructure development projects under the I-BUILD program of PRDP which aims to improve connectivity through road networks in Mindanao.

In a meeting with the World Bank two weeks ago, Alesna said, “as of now they are working on the guidelines as to what subprojects to be implemented within this $280 million which is around P14 billion.”

Earlier this year, PRDP proposed a $450 million additional funding which the Word Bank granted only $170 for release amounting to around P8 billion

“And with that P8 billion, P2.3 billion is for 2018,” Alesna said, adding the remaining will be for 2019.

He also said 32 percent of which will be for Mindanao.

With the huge funding allocation of PRDP, Alesna added this would be implemented through creation of infrastructures like roads, and bridges in order to increase market productivity among Filipino farmers.