WB team visits PRDP subprojects in Luzon

A team from the World Bank (WB) recently visited select subprojects in Regions 1, 2, 3, and Cordillera under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP). 

Led by Frauke Jungbluth, the team looked into the progress of approved enterprise and infrastructure subprojects, as well as the status of Luzon A cluster’s portfolio and pipelined subprojects.

Among those that were visited include the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka onion farm mechanization service facility in Talavera, the Sikkap San Jose Ampalaya Enterprise, and the Sto. Domingo Onion Enterprise Project, all in Nueva Ecija, as well as the provision of custom service and establishment of a processing center and storage facility for sweet potato in Tarlac.

“Nineteen out of the 22 provinces have already secured infrastructure subprojects, with a budget totaling P10.6 billion. Of this, 33 subprojects were approved, amounting to P2.71 billion,” Department of Agriculture Central Luzon Regional Director Andrew Villacorta said.

For the PRDP’s enterprise component, 20 provinces have submitted their proposals with a budget of P495 million, of which nine subprojects amounting to P124 million were approved, as of March.

PRDP National Deputy Project Director Arnel de Mesa expressed satisfaction with the cluster’s emerging progress, declaring Luzon A as the cluster with the most improvements since the WB last conducted its support mission to the PRDP.

Prior to the activity, a three-day pre-mission was held to check on the viability and preparedness of selected enterprises and their respective proponent groups in Central Luzon.

During the activity, representatives from the cooperatives were able to present their business plans, after which questions were thrown regarding the process of preparations, role of women, and further plans for expansion, among others.

“We are looking forward to the main impact of our intervention, how much benefit it will cause the farmers, and how they can sustain it,” Jungbluth said.

The PRDP is a six-year national project that aims to establish a modern, inclusive, value chain-oriented, and climate-resilient agri-fisheries sector.