Cagayan de Oro City – Moving forward with the government’s program in providing assistance to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) of the recent Marawi siege, the Department of Agriculture – Project Management Office (DA-PMO) staged a coordination meeting for the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan (BMCRRP).

Presided by DA Assistant Secretary Dr. Andrew B. Villacorta, the meeting aimed to identify and prioritize the masterlist of beneficiaries and update on the drafted implementing guidelines for the Plan, including other required documents to start the implementation of various projects.

DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) allocated about Php211.78 million (M) for projects such as the dispersal of livestock animals and the provision of post-harvest facilities and equipment.

In particular, ensuring the quarantine area prior the dispersal of animals, comprising heads of goat and cattle were tackled. Likewise, the conduct a training-workshop with emphasis on livestock animal handling, to be attended by the IDPs was discussed.

For their part, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – 10 apportioned about Php56.58-M worth of fishery projects.

Specifically, the design and lay-out for the establishment of the Php3-M Ice Plant and Cold Storage facility is reportedly now on the bidding process.

Meanwhile, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council has already distributed activated Electronic Money Cards to 174 recipients, each receiving Php5,000.00 as of November 2018. Total beneficiaries set for such financial assistance is at 1,400 individuals.

Also present in the meeting is National Organic Agriculture Program Coordinator Engr. Christopher V. Morales; Department of Agriculture and Fisheries of Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Secretary Alexander G. Alonto, Jr.; representatives from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management and BFAR-10, and the host, DA-RFO 10 led by OIC-Regional Director Carlene C. Collado, CPA. # (EMB)