LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY – Seven subprojects worth P543.78 million were approved and endorsed by the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) for possible funding under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
The RPAB-approved subprojects consist of six infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subprojects with an aggregate amount of P533.53 million. These are the P122.59 million-worth Construction/Improvement of Segment A (Agpay to Bololo) and Segment B (Bololo to Batbat) Farm-to-Market Road, proposed by the local government unit (LGU) of Guinobatan, Albay, the Rehabilitation/Improvement of Macabugos-Tambo FMR and the Concreting of Malabiga-Sampongan FMR Section by LGU-Libon, Albay, which cost P68 million and P60 million, respectively, the Concreting of Bagolatao to Hamoraon (Coastal) FMR which amounts to P115.31 million by LGU-Minalabac, Camarines Sur, and the Concreting of F. Simeon-Upper Omon and Lower Omon FMR and the Concreting/Rehabilitation of Banga Caves, Upper Sta. Cruz and Lanipga-Cawayan FMR by LGU-Ragay, Camarines Sur which both amount to P113.78 million.
The RPAB also approved and endorsed the enterprise development (I-REAP) subproject Malilipot Abaca Twine Processing and Marketing by LGU-Malilipot, Albay. The P10.25 million-worth I-REAP subproject will benefit the abaca farmer-members of the San Francisco Irrigators’ Association Inc.
The RPAB-approved subprojects will be submitted to the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) for re-run under the I-BUILD Prioritization scheduled on February 28, 2019 in Quezon City for probable inclusion in the 2020 subprojects funded under the approximately P4.8 billion Foreign Exchange (FOREX) Gain Budget.
The RPAB is chaired by the DA Regional Executive Director and is composed of regional directors of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council (RAFC). (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-RAFIS V)
PRDP-Bicol Deputy Project Director Adelina Losa informs the proponents from the local government units and the RPAB that the RPAB-approved subprojects will be submitted for possible funding under the approximately P4.8 billion Foreign Exchange (FOREX) Gain Budget.
The RPAB members evaluate the PRDP subproject proposals from the LGUs
Ragay, Camarines Sur’s Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC) Engr. Neopito Tipay presents the proposal for the Concreting of F. Simeon-Upper Omon and Lower Omon FMR and the Concreting/Rehabilitation of Banga Caves, Upper Sta. Cruz and Lanipga-Cawayan FMR by LGU-Ragay, Camarines Sur.
Engr. Gregorio Lavandero Jr. presents the proposal for the Concreting of Bagolatao to Hamoraon (Coastal) FMR.
(Photos by Michelle Angela G. Alfigura, DA PRDP-RPCO V)