DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Scale-up has gathered farmers, cooperatives, and key stakeholders to obtain funding from the World Bank-supported program during a business conference in the city.
PRDP Scale-up aims to support initiatives to boost the agriculture sector in the country.
PRDP Negros Oriental focal person, Juan Augustine Jalandoni, said PRDP offers substantial financial assistance, covering up to 90 percent of project costs, which could significantly impact the province’s infrastructure and agricultural sectors.
The projects focus on four priority commodities such as cassava, abaca, native chicken, highland vegetables, virgin coconut oil as well as farm-to-market roads.
“This is supported by PRDP to improve the agriculture landscape and productivity of the province as well as to improve farmers’ income,” Jalandoni said.
PRDP has allocated P3.8 billion for the province for its enterprise development and infrastructure projects or farm-to-market roads.
“Ang nakuha pa lamang sa probinsya P500 million pa, mao na (The province was able to use only P500 million so far, which is why) we are proposing close to P2 billion worth of road projects for Sta. Catalina, Pamplona, Sibulan, Valencia, and farm-to-market roads in Vallehermoso,” said Jalandoni.
“Kini dako kaayo’g tabang sa probinsya sa infrastructure development more so dako kaayong tabang sa atung mga maguuma,” he added.
(This is of great help to the province’s infrastructure development, more so to the farmers.)
He also stressed the importance of farmer organizations’ participation, as these groups are crucial to the success of the projects.
PRDP planning officer Atty. Preacious Gumolon of the Department of Agriculture Region 7 cited the goal of linking farmers with the necessary resources and technology from the private sector and government agencies.
She outlined the PRDP’s funding structure, which includes a loan of USD$600 million from the World Bank, aimed at developing agriculture and fisheries across the Philippines.
The PRDP’s projects in the province are expected to run until 2029, with a target of increasing the income of farmers by 40 percent.
“Naay tay gitawag na commodity prioritization pag identify niini atu icheck depende sa iyang market, production ug potential expansion, mao ta naka come up niining mga commodities na buhatan natu ug value chain analysis na mabuhatan natu ug budget for investments or project proposals,” explained Gumolon.
(We have what we call commodity prioritization, where we identify the project based on its market, production, and potential expansion. This is how we were able to come up with these commodities, for which we will develop value chain analysis as basis for the budget of the investments or project proposals.)
Gumolon also highlighted the inclusion of gender equality goals within the project, aiming to increase the participation of female farmers.
Initially, the virgin coconut oil (VCO) of Barangay Liptong Small Coconut Farmers Association, Inc. (BLISCOFA) in Valencia town has received over P6 million under DA’s PRDP.
Edilberta Sogocio, manager of BLISCOFA, shared how the PRDP has helped their group, which allowed them to buy trucks for hauling of whole coconuts and acquire other machineries and equipment for nut processing to increase productivity and household income among famer-members.
“Busa on behalf of BLISCOFA kami gapa salamat gud mi ug dako sa PRDP in cooperation with the provincial government sa DA na kami una jud naka avail niining PRDP enterprise para sa VCO production na mapalambo,” Sogocio said.
(So on behalf of BLISCOFA, we would like to thank PRDP in cooperation with the provincial government and DA that we were the first recipient to avail of PRDP enterprise for VCO to improve production.)
The assistance augmented the production from 200 to 500 nuts daily, with a potential capacity of 4,000 nuts per day.
The products are now distributed in various locations, including Dumaguete, Bohol, Iloilo, Bacolod, Cebu, and Siquijor.
Sogocio pointed out that the PRDP’s support has not only improved their production but also added value to their coconut products.
“Kini nakatabang kaayo namo sa panginabuhi sa among 168 ka miembro ug nakapalambo sab sa among kinabuhi,” said Sogocio.
(This assistance has benefited their 168 members economically and improved their living standards.)
The association has also expanded into new products for gardening and animal feed, showcasing the PRDP’s positive impact on their community and the agriculture sector. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from April Villagonzalo, SU Intern)
