DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. – Photo courtesy of Department of Agricuture/Facebook.
Funded under the World Bank (WB)’s Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) Scale-Up, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to implement soon Php 2.06 billion worth of farm-to-market roads that would connect primary farming communities across the country.
According to agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., the project covers more than 66 kilometers of rural roads and 310 linear meters of bridges that would connect farming communities in the provinces of Zambales, Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Samar, Bukidnon and North Cotabato.
Tiu Laurel Jr. disclosed that the program’s approval is part of the DA’s plans to strengthen the local agri-food supply chain and reduce high logistics costs due to inadequate rural infrastructure.
“These projects will improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, lower their expenses and give them better access to markets,” he pointed out.
In addition, the agri chief cited that the approved bridge projects under the program are the “most transformative component” as they would replace river crossings that become impassable or dangerous during storms.
The WB-funded PRDP Scale-Up seeks to fund the construction of more agricultural infrastructure like farm-to-market roads as well as irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities aimed at strengthening the country’s agricultural value chain.
“The PRDP Scale-Up remains one of the government’s most demanding foreign-assisted programs because it adheres to stringent World Bank standards,” Tiu Laurel noted even as the international lender expressed interest to expand its support to the country once the government delivers results.
In ending, the DA secretary called on local government units (LGUs) to continue preparing projects that would meet the World Bank’s standards to hasten the approval of future programs.
“We are looking to award the remaining projects under the PRDP Scale-Up by the end of the year. Improved connectivity, modern post-harvest facilities and better irrigation systems would strengthen the country’s food supply chains, improve farm productivity and help ease price pressure on food,” he concluded.