The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) turned over P17.8 million worth of agriculture infrastructure projects in Southern Leyte.
These infrastructure projects included communal irrigation project, potable-water system and postharvest facility. These will benefit 120 households of Katipunan, Silago, Southern Leyte. The projects were undertaken through the Jica-Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) cooperation Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP)-Phase III.
“We continue to support Philippines’s inclusive growth agenda, and enhancing agriculture production remains one of our priorities. We hope that through the agriculture infrastructure, we will be able to uplift the lives of people in agrarian communities, and create more jobs in the area,” Jica Representative Yoshiyuki Ueno said.
The turned over subprojects in Silago, Southern Leyte, were an outcome of cost-sharing or 50 percent each from the local government of Silago, and the ARISP III project.
The projects in Silago were also implemented in partnership with the municipal government and the National Irrigation Administration. Jica lauded the participation of the beneficiaries who contributed equity through materials for construction, portion of land value and improvement of right of way.
“The projects highlight the value of community participation in achieving development goals, and making sure that the people’s voices are heard,” Ueno said. “The subprojects were consulted with barangays and based on the Agrarian Reform Community development plan.” Since 1995 Jica has partnered with the DAR to implement its ARISP to support Philippine agriculture.
ARISP, now on its third phase, aims to build 13,468 irrigation facilities in the Philippines and 754 kilometers of farm-to-market roads.
The project also intends to build 1,822 linear meters of bridges, 94 postharvest facilities and 84 units of potable-water supply, among others.
Jica is an agency of the government of Japan responsible for implementing the technical cooperation, grant aid and yen loan programs of Japan’s official development assistance to developing countries such as the Philippines.