DA urges public, private sectors to take advantage
The Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) has four components: planning, I-build, enterprise components with PO and cooperative, and logistics The PRPD, which has an appropriation of P27 billion, is aimed at raising the living condition of the rural poor
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has urged local government units (LGUs), people’s organizations (POs) and multi-purpose cooperatives to avail themselves of funds for World Bankassisted projects that are implemented under the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).
Gerry Avila, chief of the DA 7 enterprise component for PRDP, said the PRDP is a six-year program--from 2014 to 2020--designed for inclusive market-oriented projects.
Avila, who is also chief of the DA 7 agribusiness and marketing assistance division, said the PRDP has four components: planning, I-build, enterprise components with PO and cooperative, and logistics.
On I-build, or building agribusiness infrastructure, an interested LGU is only required to put up 10 percent equity for a project. The 90 percent that will be financed by World Bank through DA’s PRDP is a grant and will not be paid back.
“This means that if an LGU has a project proposal in the amount of P100 million, it is required to put up P10 million and the P90 million will be financed by World Bank as a grant. The LGU will not pay the P90 million,” Avila said.
Under the enterprise group, a PO or a coopera- tive can propose a food production venture where the World Bank will finance 60 percent; DA, 20 percent; LGU, 20 percent; and the PO or cooperative proponent, 20 percent.
Public support
Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante said he supports the PRDP because the P27 billion appropriated for it is aimed at raising the living condition of the rural poor.
The P27 billion is the combined amount of a loan from the World Bank and the government’s equity for PRDP.
Diamante, who is also president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines Cebu chapter, said the mayors had discussed the PRDP with DA 7 Director Angel Enriquez, especially on the mechanics and procedures in availing themselves of the funds.
Avila said that for the private sector, proponents must be farmers’ organizations or farmers’ cooperatives, because of their high level of consciousness in developing rural areas in terms of food production.
Under the I-build component are farm-to-market roads and bridges so products can be transported even during floods, irrigation facilities to sustain the planting of crops even during drought, and post-harvest equipment to maximize yields.