A glimmer of hope shines in the local government units (LGU) of Caraga after the Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) approved the endorsement of the six additional subprojects for the prioritization run under the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project Additional Financing (DA-PRDP-AF).

After the presentation of documents proving that the projects were suitable and essential in the area, the LGUs of Tago, San Agustin, and Cantilan Surigao del Sur, Bayugan City, PLGU Agusan del Sur, and Placer, Surigao del Norte, received a resounding YES from members of the RPAB.

LGU Tago proposed the concreting of Kinabigtasan-Lindoy FMR with Concrete Bridge amounting to P184M. This would benefit 9,142 residents including 308 IPs who farm rice, coconut, corn, soybeans, and abaca.

For LGU San Agustin, the proposed Construction of Buhisan-Manumnum FMR amounting to P84M will be the lone road in the area of Buatong and Buhisan. The 3,226 residents who primarily farm rice, lanzones, abaca, banana, and root crops will generally benefit from the said project. If realized, the project would reduce hauling costs, save travel time, and increase the traffic rate in the area.

Likewise, the concreting of Mahapag-Bucac-Marcelina FMR proposed by the Province of Agusan del Sur having a 4.79km distance worth P60M will cover a 2,712-hectare influence area. The road will make life easier for rubber, rice, coconut, and banana farmers since the FMR will reduce 10% transportation cost and 50% travel time.

From land to sea, Placer, SDN advocates the establishment of the 30 Ton Ice plant with an Ice Storage Facility amounting to P58.4 to support their Tuna industry. The LGU ranks 1st in the landing sites of tuna with an annual production estimate of 10,116.43mt. Such produce made a high demand to process and commercialize their tuna. With this, the P30M worth additional ice plant would help them in Tuna preservation.

A fishery proposal is also proposed by Cantilan with the construction of the three units of Watch Tower costing P17M. The alarming overfishing and climate change issues pushed the LGU to come up with the project. Cantilan also envisioned alleviating and improve the average living condition of the fisherfolk-beneficiaries by encouraging sustainable fishing. It would then benefit 1,380 fisherfolks.

Lastly, Barangay Tinago of Cantilan raised that the water system in the community should be improved since it can only serve 7 households out of the 243 homes. Moreover, this would help uplift the lifestyle of the predominant coconut farmers in the community. The water system amounts to P9M.

Careful deliberation

Members of the RPAB, namely: the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Public Works and Highways, Mindanao Development Authority, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Department of the Interior and Local Government deliberately clarified the intentions and importance of the proposals to the community.

Despite the intense deliberations, the RPAB chaired by DA Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo signed the resolutions approving the subprojects under the Intensified Building-Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (I-BUILD) component for endorsement to the DA-PRDP National Project Coordination Office for further evaluation. If approved, the subprojects will receive a No Objection Letter 1 (NOL1) which would indicate that the project has been funded and should proceed to the implementation of the subproject. (Zenny G. Awing / DA-PRPD13)