ABS-CBN News, 15 July 2013
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is working on three projects for consideration under the public private partnership scheme.
In a statement, the DA Project Development Service Director Zenaida M. Villegas said the three projects include the construction of a multipurpose reservoir dam, improvement of existing post-harvest processing and trading centers, and the establishment of a cold chain system.
The P11.212 billion Jalaur River Muti-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) to be implemented by the National Irrigation Administration, will provide year-round irrigation to agricultural areas in Iloilo province.
Project funds will be sourced from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) via the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank).
Construction of access roads to the site is on-going, but the NIA targets to finish the JRMP II before President Aquino’s term ends in 2016.
Another project is the Grains Central Project, which will rehabilitate, expand, and enhance existing corn trading and processing centers nationwide. The project will include 11 corn postharvest processing and trading centers.
The third project is the “cold chain project”, which aims to reduce postharvest losses, maintain the quality of perishable goods, and promote direct marketing/online auctions.
Five routes are included in the project: Cagayan-Manila, Visayas-Inter-Island Connections, Manila-Cebu, Cebu-Manila, and Benguet-Manila, which will be the pilot route.
