An orientation regarding the project components of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was hosted by the Palawan Provincial Government on Thursday, March 23 at the VJR Hall of the Provincial Building.
The PRDP was designed to elevate rural incomes and enhance farm and fishery productivity in targeted areas in the country, including Palawan.
It was also created to support rural infrastructure and local enterprise development subprojects to boost rural incomes and strengthen planning and implementation capacities among local government units (LGUs).
As discussed during the orientation, additional financing in agricultural investments, communal irrigation subprojects and improvement of farm to market roads may be funded by the PRDP, which is expected to increase partnerships in productive investments between farmers’ groups and commercial buyers.
The DA will provide technical and financial support to the planning process of provincial, city and municipal governments, as well as in the implementation and delivery of services, rural infrastructure and enterprise development based on strategic investment plans.
The orientation was attended by Palawan municipal mayors, municipal planning officers, officials and members of the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) and was spearheaded by PRPD Deputy Director Engr. Annielyn Del Rosario.
Palawan Vice-Governor Leoncio Ola said that the PRDP is an important step in merging local priorities and development programs to improve the province’s fishing and farming sector.
“Maari tayong magpanukala ng mga proyektong magpapaunlad sa mga priority commodities mula sa segment ng pagtatanim o production, mga kalsada o farm to market roads, processing hanggang sa pagbebenta ng mga ito,” Ola said.
DA-MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Engr. Maria Christine Inting, on the other hand, said that the DA is scaling up to provide a better and sustainable agri-fishery sector to strengthen partnerships of farmers and commercial buyers.
“The PRPD is now geared towards bigger and broader investments in agri-fisheries sectors. We also aim for a better income and better livelihood conditions for our farmers and fishers by rebuilding the value chain in adopting modernized and accurate climate resilient technologies,” Inting said.