Aquino lauds rural development program in Mindanao

By Carina L Cayon

Monday 14th of May 2012

DAVAO CITY, May 14 (PIA) -- President Benigno C. Aquino III lauded today the achievements of the Department of Agriculture’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) in alleviating the living conditions of the rural and coastal folks in Mindanao.

“Sa tulong ng MRDP, itinataguyod natin ang pagkakaroon ng sapat na pagkain sa hapag ng bawat pamilya, ang pagkakaloob ng disenteng trabaho, at marangal na pamumuhay (With the help of the MRDP, we can uphold the need of each Filipino family for adequate food, decent shelter and livelihood),” the President stated as he addressed more than 1,200 participants in today’s MRDP’s People’s Organizations (POs) Congress at Grand Regal Hotel, this city.

He said that the DA-MRDP has been a partner of the government in addressing the welfare and needs of the Mindanao people, and in fast-tracking development in Mindanao.

MRDP is a poverty-alleviation initiative of DA with funding coming from the World Bank, and with equity shares from the national government and the 225 covered local governments in Mindanao.

The President hailed the program’s impact, citing the almost 17 percent increase in the rural folk’s annual income which is equivalent to more than P11,000 per year, since MRDP started providing assistance to farmers and fisherfolks in 2004.

Aside from this, he enumerated several projects of MRDP such as farm-to-market roads, bridges, solar dryer, as well as rural and agri-fishery infrastructures, saying “Na talaga naman pong nagpapaaliwalas at naghahatid ng oportunidad sa mga Mindanaoan.”

With the tangible impact of the program in improving the lives of the community, Aquino said people have high confidence over MRDP projects.

“Tunay pong kapag ang pondo ay matuwid na ginugugol, at nakakasabay sa pag-asenso ang Pilipino, ganado silang makilahok sa ating pong mga proyekto (Truly if the funds are spent correctly, and the Filipinos are catching up progressively, they will be eager to participate in our projects)," he said.

He also assured to strengthen more his reform agenda.

“Pagdating po sa kaunlaran, walang sinuman ang dapat maiwan—‘yan po ang bisyon natin (When it comes to progress, no one should be left behind and that is our vision)," the President emphasized, saying that this could be attained through good governance and unity of the government and the people.

He further stressed that his administration would continue to give focus on the “land of promise.”

Before the President rendered his speech, he handed over citations and awards to seven POs and local government units during the “Parangal sa mga Bosing ng Kanayunan” awarding ceremony.

The awarding ceremony was the highlight of the PO’s Congress, aiming to give recognition to outstanding and best performing POs and local government units in the implementation of the DA-MRDP projects in their respective areas. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)