Capiz endorses to RDC program to reduce poverty By Jemin B. Guillermo ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Jan. 15 (PIA) – A program that aims to reduce the poverty incidence in upland areas here was positively endorsed by the province of Capiz to the Regional Development Council. In a meeting called by Governor Victor Tanco for the members of the Provincial Development Council here, the Panay Island Upland Sustainable Rural Development Program (PIU-SRDP) was successfully endorsed by the PDC to the RDC for positive action. Tanco said that with the implementation of said program in three pilot areas in Capiz, namely Pangabuan and Esperanza in Jamindan and in Artuz, Tapaz towns, food security will further boost and reduce poverty incidence through upland farming. The governor also expressed optimism that the program will benefit many residents especially farmers in the upland areas here, through increased agriculture production which will result in reducing poverty incidence in said areas. Tanco said that he is hopeful that the RDC will give a nod to the endorsed program of the Council here. During the January 13 PDC meeting the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Antonio Asis explained that the PIU-SRDP aims to reduce the poverty incidence in upland areas, increase the income levels, as well as amplify collaboration and ecological awareness of the rural farming population through sustainable agriculture upland development. Included in the program components are appropriate production technology support, capacity building, knowledge-sharing, education and skills, alternative financial support and guarantee mechanisms, development of local food systems and agricultural infrastructure support as well as institutional and organizational development, he said. Asis said that the five-year program which will start on 2016 until 2020, aims to reach 12,000 farmers in 10,000-hectare upland areas from the pilot provinces of Aklan, Antique, Iloilo and Capiz. Under the said plan of action, Asis stressed that pilot upland sites in five towns from the four Panay Island provinces will be established, targeting among others 100 upland development clusters in agro-forest lands, indigent people communities and agrarian reform centers. According to him, the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas is the proponent of said project and a partner of the Korean International Cooperation Agency in the project implementation. The Department of Environment and natural Resources, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Commission on Indigenous People, provincial and municipal governments and the civil society organizations and people’s organization are the collaborative partners in the implementation of said program.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 02:14:16 +0000