Agriculture department to replicate MRDP in Luzon

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is now planning to replicate the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) in Central Luzon after receiving favorable feedback from the local government units (LGUs) covered in the program, as well as a favorable assessment from the World Bank.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, during his visit in the city Monday, bared that the agency is now working together with the World Bank team in preparing for a feasibility study on how to replicate certain features of the MRDP could be of use in other programs of the department.

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"In particular, we would like to ensure that the lessons on National Government-LGU engagement are shared with the new program," Alcala said.

World Bank representative Carolina Figueroa-Geron said the plans of replicating MRDP is possible given that the DA will have to work it out and bring the decentralization model to other parts of the country.

"MRDP 1 and 2 are very good examples that have happened in Mindanao and could also be utilized in other LGUs," Geron said.

MRDP promotes National Government and local government cooperation by way of cost-sharing in agricultural projects proposed by the people in the community.

The entire project has a total of $123.57 million; $83.75 million of which is sourced from the World Bank loan portfolio plus the equity of the National Government and local government units.

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, who is also the president of the Federation of Governors in Mindanao, expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to LGUs in Mindanao.

"We have been envied here in Mindanao for having this MRDP2. If there are plans of replicating this program in other areas in the country, I suggest they come up with another name of the program because MRDP is unique in Mindanao," del Rosario said.

The official asked Alacala to continue this kind of model in Mindanao while the agency is considering for the replication of such in Central Luzon.

"We ask them to continue helping Mindanao for it is during the present administration that we got a substantive share in the national budget," del Rosario said.

Alcala confirmed the statement of Del Rosario saying that Mindanao got 40 percent of the total agriculture budget. (PIA)