ACLC College Gensan

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Koronadal City (DA-MRDP/PIA SarGen) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) has prepared a package of development investments to newly installed local chief executives (LCEs) in Mindanao.

In a series of orientation, DA is inviting investments for its flagship poverty alleviation program in southern Philippines dubbed as the second phase Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRPD) as an option for new local administrations for their the development plans.

"The program is a good option for newly installed LCEs as it is a holistic approach to development designed to open up economic opportunities for rural communities and capitalize on the rich natural resources on their respective localities," said program director Lealyn A. Ramos.

MRDP is long-term poverty alleviation program jointly fund by the National Government, the local government unit and a loan portfolio from World Bank. It has four major components, namely: Rural Infrastructure (RI), Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD), Natural Resources Management (NRM) and Investment for Governance Reform (IGR).

RI focuses on relevant and much needed infrastructures like irrigation, farm-to-market roads and post-harvest facilities seen to help farmers improve productivity and increase their incomes. CFAD focus on empowering peoples' organization to venture into agri-based enterprise. NRM is implementing environmental conservation projects and IGR on reinforcing the mandates of the Local Government Code.

The Program is conducting this week a series of orientation to new LCEs in the Provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and South Cotabato. And in other regions across Mindanao in the ensuing weeks.

"What we desire is for the LCEs to avail of the whole investment package to maximize its impact on the community," Ramos said.

"By putting infrastructure on production areas or where CFAD projects are implemented plus the instituting governance reform to better revenues, it won't be long to see the social and economic impacts of the program," Ramos added.

"We have seen how the program has improved many rural lives and we now fully understand and appreciate its procedures. That's why we in the province help promote it among the towns in our area," said Sultan Kudarat provincial planning and development chairman Romy Zaragaosa.

This year, MRDP set to achieve P2 billion worth of agricultural infrastructures and benefit 151 towns which will implement various livelihood projects. It has also earmarked P42 million for environmental conservation projects.

The five-year phase 2 program which kicked-off in May 2007 has a total of 225 enrolled municipalities covering all six regions of Mindanao. (DA-MRDP/PIA SarGen) [top]

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