DA sets more agri infra for Cordillera this 2021

By Elvy Taquio Estacio

BAGUIO CITY -- The Dept. of Agriculture is set to complete or start agricultural infrastructure subprojects to improve farming and enhance transport and market systems of many farmers in the Cordillera this 2021.
    At present, the DA’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) poured in a total of P2.65 billion (B) with 49 infrastructure subprojects in Cordillera Administrative Region.
    Of 49 approved subprojects, 34 are already completed and 15 are under implementation. Most of these are Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs), Level II water systems, communal irrigation systems, and other infrastructures such as consolidation centers and slope protections.
    To date, the province of Kalinga has the highest amount of approved infrastructure subprojects amounting to P794 M followed by Ifugao with P747 million and Benguet with P483 million.
    Kalinga has already completed four FMR subprojects and one consolidation facility in support to the local coffee industry. The province was also recognized in August 2020 for having topped the nationwide physical progress ranking of subprojects under the DA-PRDP with the improvement of Bado-Dangwa-Guilayon FMR.
    The Regional Project Advisory Board-CAR (RPAB-CAR) recently approved five infrastructure subprojects for funding under the DA-PRDP.
    This includes one new FMR subproject proposal in Kalinga worth P152.59 million (M) and four repackaged water system subprojects in Ifugao with a total cost of P11.84 M. The water system subprojects were previously terminated due to contractors’ abandonment and the subproject proposals were then repackaged.
    These development interventions intend to put in place strategic and climate-resilient infrastructure facilities along the value chain of commodities prioritized under the PRDP.
    As the DA-PRDP continues to implement ongoing subprojects, more farmers and agricultural service areas will soon benefit from these interventions this 2021 and beyond.-- (DA-PRDP)