DAVAO CITY – THE Department of Agriculture (DA) front-loads rural infrastructure projects through the World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) with Mindanao getting the biggest share.
The National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) announced recently during 7th I-BUILD Assessment and Coordination Meeting held in Agusan del Norte, that with the P26.7 billion worth of infrastructure sub-projects in the pipeline, 190 sub-projects amounting to P11.3 billion are already approved. Of the 190 approved, 69 sub-projects are already under implementation.
I-BUILD known as Intensified Build Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development aims to put in place climate resilient farm-to-market roads, bridges, communal irrigation and potable water systems.
Mindanao cluster (consists Region 9, 10, 11, 12, Caraga and ARMM) has the biggest portfolio with a total of 113 approved sub-projects amounting to P5,113,112,803. A total of 49 of the 69 on-going projects are in Mindanao.
Luzon A Cluster (CAR, Region 1,2 and 3) has an approved 22 sub-projects worth 2,099,281,097.39; Luzon B Cluster (regions 4A, 4B and 5) has 30 sub-projects amounting to 2,224,871,089; Visayas Cluster (regions 6,7 and 8) has 25 sub-projects amounting to 1,932,571,008.
“We’ve noted that infrastructure projects are highly in demand by our local government units. We are happy with the response of our LGU partners. Together with them we ensure that each project is done with quality and follows the agreed harmonized procedures between national government and the World Bank,” said PSO Mindanao Deputy Program Director Consolacion Satorre.
Satorre added that activity such as national assessment is regularly conducted as venue to provide solution to crucial issues and concerns. “This four-day activity provided an avenue among I-BUILD Components from all Project Clusters to assess the component’s performance in connection to its physical and financial targets. This ensures that the component’s milestones are closely monitored,” she said.
NPCO Alternate I-BUILD Head Engr. Ericson Mammag said that with the magnitude of the I-BUILD portfolio constant coordination is necessary to enforce implementation mechanisms and strictly observe guidelines to avoid unnecessary delays.
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