PRESS RELEASE
Department of Agriculture RFU 5
San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur
February 2, 2012

The Infrastructure for Rural Productivity Enhancement Sector (InfRES) funded by the Asian Development Bank, is extending project implementation for another 22 months to use the GOP counterpart fund balance for repair of damages, concreting critical road section and full construction completion with a budget of P300 million. The project will be complemented with Ps 115 million LGU counterpart funds which form part of their commitment under the DA-LGU management agreement.

Under the 22-month extension the following activities and projects are included: repair of flood damage sections of 26 subprojects in regions VIII and V under force majeure; concreting of 72 kilometers of critical roads sections and improve drainage; strengthen other structures that are prone to flooding and landslides caused by the effects of climate change; modification of engineering design to withstand the effects of climate change to sustain infrastructural integrity and safeguard investment. Severe flood damage was the primary reason why some of the projects were not completed during the closing last June 30, 2011. But, INFRES project has now completed about 93.5% of the total target length of 1,435 kilometers. With the extension, the project will run until April 2013.

According to Regional Executive Director Jose V. Dayao, for region V eight local government units were included and approved by the project coordination office in the extended project namely : Camalig 15M, Libon 15M, Ligao 45M, Pioduran 15M, Polangui 25M in Albay, Gubat in Sorsogon 10M, Talisay in Camarines Norte 15M and Calabanga in Camarines Sur 15M. The total GOP counterpart amounted to Ps 155 million. All LGUs under the project must complete the construction by February 2013. Dayao added that all LGUs were required to come up with their own agriculture intensification plans for implementation in order to gain maximum impacts in the fight against rural poverty.

InfRES is a project implemented by the Department of Agriculture through 779 municipalities in 41 provinces in Southern Luzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and the whole of Mindanao, regions with high agricultural potential but with high poverty incidence. The $150-million project is a loan-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) with counterpart funding by the Government of the Philippines, LGUs and beneficiaries. The project aims to reduce poverty through construction of basic infrastructure (farm-to-market roads, irrigation and potable water) systems in poor rural areas with high agricultural potential. It also includes capacity-building programs for local government units. (mabelle r.ilan)