Philippines seeks extension of WB funding for Mindanao infra projects
DAVAO CITY, Philippines—The Philippine government, through the Department of Agriculture, is seeking an extension of the second phase of the World Bank-funded Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) after being swamped by demands for more rural development infrastructure projects from local government units in Mindanao.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the Philippine government has been seeking out an extension of the MRDP program, a five-year poverty alleviation program supposed to end in 2012, to secure financing for some P6 billion worth of rural development infrastructure projects that could not be covered by existing funds.
Alcala said preparations have been underway to replicate this flagship poverty reduction program in the Visayas and Luzon.
“From among the 225 towns and 26 provinces covered by the project, the government needs more projects over and above the current resources available for MRDP, that’s why we are requesting for an extension,” he said.
“We still have numerous proposals from local government units that have been submitted; and they’re not merely proposals but are already in the advanced stage, some of them complete with feasibility studies and detailed engineering plans,” he added.
Felizardo Virtucio Jr., who headed the WB support mission team here for the evaluation of the MRDP 2, said they have been reviewing the Philippine government’s request for extension. Alcala said the review mission would be critical, as the result of the evaluation would influence the government’s request for project extension and for additional financing in rural infrastructure component.
He said that MRDP 2 enjoyed a 30.5 per cent disbursement rate, with some US$25.35 million already disbursed to towns and provinces enrolled in the program.
Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, the representative of the League of Governors in the MRDP, said the rural infrastructures being implemented in the program would boost Mindanao’s capacity for food production in the future.
