Thursday, September 04, 2008 Rural program to invest on flood control system
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) will invest in preventive infrastructures to secure Mindanao's productivity and its people.
DA's Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) will push for the inclusion in its menu of Rural Infrastructure (RI) flood control systems and river development projects in flood-prone areas in Mindanao to prevent loss of lives and properties.
This is among the agreements made by MRDP's Program Advisory Board (PAB) on its third bi-annual meeting held recently in Davao City.
The PAB sets policy directions for the planning and implementation of the activities of MRDP under its chair Undersecretary for Operation Jesus Emmanuel M. Paras and co-chaired by Undersecretary Virgilio L. Leyretana of Mindanao Economic and Development Council (Medco).
The agreement was in response to the clamor of the local chief executives in Sultan Kudarat whose towns were severely hit by typhoon "Frank", damaging hundreds of millions of infrastructures including the farm-to-market road projects of MRDP-phase 1.
In July this year, "Frank" devastated around P1.15 billion in agriculture and infrastructure facilities in Central Mindanao, according to the data of the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council (RDCC).
Central Mindanao consists of the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, North Cotabato and Sarangani, as well as the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
Mayor Ramon M. Abalos of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat said that the lack flood control system was the main reason for the big damage in their town and in the province, which greatly affected their economic activity particularly agricultural production.
"We have been requesting to construct flood control and river development projects even during the first phase of MRDP, however, it is not part of the infra menu," said Abalos who is also a member of the board representing the League of Municipalities.
In Lambayong town alone, the toll of "Frank" rose to P129 M worth of roads and bridges, P121.5 million irrigation systems not to mention damages on the vast rice field submerged in flood.
