By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga 

The Negros Occidental provincial government, the Department of Agriculture (DA), and project beneficiaries signed the implementation management agreement of the approved Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) I-REAP subprojects for additional financing, on Saturday, November 5, as part of the Cinco de Noviembre celebrations.

The project beneficiaries are the Celestino Villacin Vegetable Farmers Association of Cadiz City, Bajay-Patol Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Cauayan, Camindangan Planters and Farm Workers Association of Sipalay City, Federation of Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development – Negros, Victor U. Lopez Agrarian Reform Cooperative of Pontevedra, Cabagnaan Active Producers for Social Enterprise Association in La Castellana’s Barangay Cabagnaan.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and the authorized representatives from DA and project beneficiaries signed the agreement.

The said agreement sets out the commitments of the parties in implementing the subprojects for the benefit of the groups, which will also facilitate local development in their respective local government units.

PRDP is a value-chain-based agriculture and fisheries development program of the DA that aims to increase rural incomes and enhance farm and fishery productivity in the targeted areas in the country.

Among the projects that would be funded include virgin coconut oil production, goat breeding, native chicken breeding, and coffee processing./DGB, WDJ