Thursday, 2 August 2012

Agriculture expands rural program

By Manila Standard Today
The government is seeking a $500 million loan from the World Bank to expand the proposed $627-million poverty mitigation strategy in the countryside to cover more regions.
“The Philippine Rural Development Program is an ‘upscaled’ Mindanao Rural Development Program,” Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said. “It will be implemented nationwide possibly by August 2013.”
World Bank lead rural development specialist Carolina Figueroa-Geron said the Philippine government would raise $120 million as counterpart fund to the $7-million grant from the Global Environment Facility.
She said the agriculture office is required to present a proposal to the National Economic and Development Authority’s technical board for evaluation.
Mindanao Rural Development Program is a flagship poverty alleviation thrust of the agriculture department, across 225 towns in 26 provinces.
MRD director Lealyn Ramos said the Australian Government Overseas Aid has provided a $3 million grant to upgrade agricultural services in project design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
“It will also be used to improve the livelihood opportunities for the targeted communities and institutionalize the program among the local government units’ delivery of services that promotes participation, transparency and accountability,” she said.
Original Article Here

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