DAR hopeful of Zamboanga’s inclusion in Japan agrarian infra projects

text & photo HADER GLANG

Department of Agrarian Reform-IX (DAR-IX) Regional Director Julita Ragandang is flanked by her assistants during a press conference with local media at DAR's office in Veterans Avenue, Zamboanga City.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) regional office here in Western Mindanao is hopeful that Japan government would include Zamboanga in the implementation of the third phase of its Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) in the southern Philippines.

In a press conference, DAR Regional Director Julita Ragandang said they are trying their best to be included in the ARISP-Phase III, which will be implemented next year and funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

“We hope that Japan would include us, but this depends in the national level,” Ms. Ragandang said. “We have yet to see its (Japan’s ARISP) phase III that will be implemented in Region 9.”

Japan has been supporting the country's Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). ARISP is only one of its several projects being implemented by DAR in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay and other “special areas” like the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Region 12.

The JBIC has the biggest contribution to the DAR’s ODA portfolio or 30% of the total investment for both the completed and on-going foreign-assisted projects. Likewise, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has the significant contribution in financing the program.

Ragandang said DAR completed ARISP Phase I with a total cost of P117 million and is expected to finish the Phase II in 2007, costing about P421 million. Among the major components of the projects are irrigation, post-harvest facilities, farm-to-market roads, and potable water supply.

“We really have to work hard in trying to finish this project because if we’ll not meet the deadline it might be transferred to other regions,” Ragandang said. “That’s how the foreign assisted project is being implemented it’s very strict on the time table.”

Earlier, the Japanese government assured Philippines that it is firmly committed to helping the country’s Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) attain growth and progress through various development projects.

As of May 31, 2006, the DAR has distributed 214,704 hectares of agricultural lands to 108,976 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Region 9, which benefited over 60,000 people in the provinces of Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur and in the cities of Zamboanga, Isabela, and Municipality of Lamitan in Basilan.

Under its Credit Assistance Program for Program Beneficiaries Development W-I, the department funded 7 projects with a total loan of P8.1 million to 396 ARBs. Five rubber-based cooperatives were also funded with a total cost of P188 million covering 1,935 hectares with 1,607 ARBs. Another 12 ARBs received P90,000 from Local Credit Assistance Program for micro livelihood projects. Five other cooperatives were also financed by the Capacity Enhancement Program for Plantation ARC with a total of P2.3 million. Thirty-one agribusiness firms and farmers cooperatives signed 15 new tie-ups.

On Foreign Assisted Infrastructure Support Projects, the department has completed 65 farm-to-market roads covering 200.65 kms. costing P103.4 million and benefiting 20,394 ARBs, 6 hanging bridge with lms. costing P3.5 million, 22 irrigation system covering 3,890 has. service area costing P74 million, 55 units rural water supply serving 10,512 houselholds costing P30 million, 19 units post harvest facilities costing P12 million benefiting 5,000 ARBs, 42 school buildings with 623 classrooms costing P156 million, 60 units household latrines and semi – public latrine, 30 units barangay health stations, and 5 rural health units costing P10.5 million. (ZS)