Mindanao gets biggest share of P45.8-M worth of projects

By Rose B. Palacio

Davao City (19 January) -- Regions in Mindanao will get the biggest share out of the total P45.8-million allocation to be released by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to fund some 50 agricultural projects in the country.

NEDA said Region X111 or the Caraga region, a depressed region in Mindanao,will get the biggest chunk in Mindanao with almost P12-million to fund 12 projects followed by the Administrative Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with P9-million for two projects, while Region 11 or Cagayan Valley will get P5-million for 7 projects.

Some of the projects are the pre and post harvest facilities of the local government of Bunawan, Agusan del Sur worth P2.18 million. Surigao City will receive P1.5-million for the establishment of a technology demonstration center for high value crops processing.

NEDA will also support the P5-million expansion of the rubber seedling nursery and planting of 500,000 seedlings of the provincial government of Basilan. This entails planting of rubber seedlings in various farms to ensure higher success of survival.

The nursery in Basilan will improve the standard of living of small rubber farmers by increasing productivity through the introduction of modern technology and high yield rubber plants, thus increasing their household income.

Also receiving funding is the rehabilitation project of the abaca industry of the provincial government of Sulu. NEDA has allocated P4-million for the project to be used for the acquisition of equipment, capability building and livelihood.

The project involves the rehabilitation of 150 hectares of abaca farms, introduction of modern post-harvest facilities and the establishment of five hectares semi-high density open-type abaca nurseries.

Surigao City will also receive P1.5-million for the establishment of a technology demonstration center for high-value crops processing. This will enhance the socio economic condition of small farmers and increase the productivity of women in the community through processing of high-value crops such as cassava, banana and pineapple.

The release of funds for agri projects is in line with the poverty alleviation program of the President aimed at providing income generating projects for the poor. (PIA-XI)