BUTUAN CITY - The completion of some P222 million worth of infrastructure projects in various parts of Mindanao has started to benefit thousands of farmers and fisherfolks in the region. Based on the report of the Department of Agriculture-Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP), the production of farmers and fishermen is expected to increase in the coming harvesting season.
The report also stated that the government's rural infrastructure agricultural components are already spread in at least six regions in Mindanao. The completed projects include some 103.53 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, 77.60 meters of single lane bridges, communal irrigation systems, and potable water facilities. Also, a total of P121.94 million worth of livelihood projects ranging from livestock breeding, high-value crops production, organic fertilizer production, and small infrastructures like footbridges, solar driers, and warehouses, benefited a considerable number of farmers across the southern island. While another P41.244 million had been downloaded to the various local government units (LGUs) implementing environmental conservation projects.
In the coming days, farmers and fishermen, particularly their respective cooperative leaders in Mindanao, will meet representatives from the World Bank (WB) as the funding agency conducts a month-long assessment of the impacts of the anti-poverty programs implemented in the southern island and look for the improvement of their farm and fishing production. The WB team will be visiting all six regions in Mindanao during the 5th World Bank review mission for the DA-MRDP. Accordingly, the review mission is a bi-annual activity to see operational performance, physical, and financial progress of the implementation. MRDP is a five-year poverty-alleviation initiative geared towards uplifting lives of poor rural communities by providing economic opportunities and reinforce LGUs mandate of devolved delivery of services. (With a report from Marvyn N. Benaning)
