Region 12 is top performer in World Bank-assisted MRDP
Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
“We’re now looking at expanding further the program’s implementation in Region 12 based on this accomplishment,” said Alcala, who graced the turnover of various farm machineries and inputs to farmers in the region late Monday afternoon.[]
The simple turnover rites coincided with the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Region 12’s “Ulat sa Bayan” and “Farmers Hearts Day” celebration held at the regional research center in Barangay Bololmala in Tupi town.
During the event, Alcala issued a special citation to the provincial government of South Cotabato for topping the implementation of MRDP-2 projects in the last two years in the entire Mindanao. MRDP-2, which is jointly funded by the World Bank, DA and local government units (LGUs), is being implemented in 225 municipalities within Mindanao’s 26 provinces.
The program mainly seeks “to further improve rural incomes and achieve food security through agri-fisheries infrastructure, livelihood enterprise, and biodiversity conservation projects.”
Alcala said that for this year, DA has allotted another P6 billion for the implementation of additional projects under the program.
He said such funding was on top of the agency’s appropriation for its priority initiatives in Mindanao this year that accounts for 38 to 40 percent of DA’s P76-billion budget for 2013.
Under the MRDP-2, the national government has allotted some P240 million for the implementation of various community-based projects in Region 12.
North Cotabato received an allotment of P80 million followed by South Cotabato with P60 million, Sarangani with P45 million and Sultan Kudarat with P37.5 million.
The program so far benefited 771 cooperatives, people’s organizations and farmer associations in the region.
A report released by MRDP-2 showed that South Cotabato province posted an accomplishment rating of 129 percent, ranking number one among the program’s other local government-beneficiaries.
Sultan Kudarat posted an accomplishment rating of 83 percent followed by North Cotabato with 68 percent and Sarangani with 55 percent. South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said the program had served 174 people’s organizations, cooperatives and associations in the province from July 2011 to October 2012.
He said that from the original target of P60 million, the province was able to implement a total of P77.5 million worth of projects in 10 localities in the area.
The governor said these comprised P10 million worth of projects each in the municipalities of Polomolok and Banga; P7.5 million each in Surallah, Tantangan and Norala; and P5 million each in the municipalities of T’boli, Sto. Nino, Tampakan, Tupi and in Koronadal City.
He said the projects included coconut and cacao production, quail raising and quail egg production, cattle and vegetable production, carabao raising, vermi composting, integrated farming system, organic rice production, pre- and post-harvest facilities, rice seed production, agri-machineries, food processing, bamboo craft production, and high value crops production, among others. Aside from the completed projects, Pingoy said 18 projects worth P8 million are presently undergoing implementation. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)
