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THE
National Economic and Development Authority Regional
Office II (NRO II) in Tuguegarao has already piloted the
P27.15-million worth National Geographic Convergence
Program in Isabela.
The
projects implemented under the program include the
P3.13-million Livestock and Dairy Production in
San Pablo
of the Department of Labor and Employment, the
Department of Agriculture (DA)-supported Hybrid Rice
Production and Processing in Roxas worth P6.87 million,
and the P9.56 million Poultry Industry Project (duck and
chicken) in San Mateo of the Department of Trade and
Industry.
Other
projects, which have not yet been piloted, include the
DA-supported Hybrid Corn Production and Processing
Project in Gamu worth P5.77 million and the Department
of Agrarian Reform-supported Tilapia Production and
Processing worth P1.82 million.
“[The
implementation’s success can] be attributed to the
active involvement of the direct beneficiaries in
project identification, planning, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation in the conduct of social
preparation and consultation meetings with the
implementing agencies from the local, regional and
national levels,” the NRO said in a statement.
In 2005
the Geo-Convergence Program was piloted in three
provinces: Isabela in Luzon, Bohol in the Visayas and
Sarangani in Mindanao.
These
provinces were chosen because of high poverty incidence
and the leadership abilities of the local executives to
ensure a greater chance of success of the program.
Each
province has to identify a flagship livelihood project
in each target barangay based on the available resources
and comparative advantages.
To
create an impact on the target beneficiaries, government
agencies in the area realigned their programs and
projects to be supportive of the flagship project.
The
government agencies are also expected to provide
technical and support services for these projects in
each area.
Among
the projects chosen from were the Livestock and Dairy
Production Project for milk production and processing
for employment and income augmentation among
beneficiaries.
This is
implemented through the provision of highly productive
and adaptable dairy animals and for animal health
management and proper nutrition.
The
project also involves the organization of dairy
cooperatives; training on milk collection and processing
and product packaging and marketing; establishment of
kitchen-type processing plants; and a study tour to
existing dairy processing centers. The project is being
implemented in seven barangays in San Pablo.
The
Hybrid Rice Processing Project aims to create livelihood
for income augmentation through hybrid-rice production,
livelihood-skills training and capital assistance,
infrastructure support projects, postharvest facilities,
and health and social-welfare services for the eight
barangays where the project is implemented.
The Duck
and Poultry Industry Project is an integrated approach
to poultry-breeding farm as a source of quality
production, breeder stock and dispersals to farmers for
income and livelihood opportunities.
The
project also involves product development,
microfinancing, marketing, nonformal education for
out-of-school youths, health management, solid-waste
management and pavement of farm-to-market roads.
The
projects were in line with the chosen flagship project
of the province geared toward rural development through
agriculture and agri-based processing, dubbed as
“Isulong ang Balikatang pang-Ekonomiya sa Larangan ng
Agrikultura” (Isabela). |
