PROVINCES in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are targeting to rollout 18 projects, costing P1.77 billion, to increase the income of coffee farmers in the region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday.
The DA said in a statement that provinces in CAR are seeking funds from the World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).
The DA said local governments in CAR are eyeing to construct 15 farm-to-market roads (FMR). CAR provinces also need funds to bankroll three business-enterprise development subprojects that follow the coffee value-chain approach, the DA said.
According to the DA, the province of Benguet proposed four FMRs and one enterprise project with civil works costing P704 million.
Other provinces needing funds are Kalinga for four FMRs and one business enterprise project with civil works amounting to P560 million; Mountain Province for three FMRs and one enterprise with civil works costing P310 million; and Ifugao for one FMR with a bridge.
As of August 14 the DA said five infrastructure proposals have received no objection letters (NOL1), 11 is still subject for NOL1 approval, while two are in progress for Regional Project Advisory Board approval.
Coffee has been selected as the pilot commodity in CAR, which is the second top coffee-producing region in the country, the DA said.
“The subprojects proposed are expected to address the PRDP’s main objectives which, in essence, aims to increase coffee farmers’ income and develop a more market-oriented and climate-resilient agriculture in the identified coffee production areas in the region,” the DA said in a statement. The PRDP is a six-year national project that aims to establish a modern, inclusive, value-chain oriented and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector. It is implemented through the partnership of the DA, the World Bank and local government units.
A team from the World Bank is currently in the country to visit several subprojects to assess their progress and address issues and concerns on the implementation of the PRDP.