DavNor Gov urges inclusion of the whole of Mindanao in PRDP

The governor here has joined Mindanao officials in asking the Department of Agriculture to include the whole of Mindanao in the proposed $627-million Philippine Rural Development Program.

Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario pushed the proposal when he presented the resolution of the Program Advisory Board of the Mindanao Rural Development Program to include all local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao in the PRDP, during the recent 8th World Bank Implementation Support mission in Quezon City.

The PRDP is a replication of the five-year MRDP, which is funded by an $83.75-million World Bank loan, including about $40-million worth of counterpart from the national government and the LGUs.

Del Rosario, who is the president of the Confederation of Local Chief Executives in Mindanao and concurrent member of the PAB representing the league of governors, said the PRDP has substantial funds to cover all Mindanao LGUs.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala assured he would take into consideration the proposal of the PAB even if the PRDP plan has been formulated.

At present, MRDP is operating in 225 of the 420 towns in all of Mindanao's 26 provinces.

The PRDP proposes to maintain the coverage area in Mindanao, while expanding the program to include Visayas and the southern part of Luzon. - Official Gazette — ARA