P.5-M vegetable project up in Aklan
The production enhancement of vegetables in the province of Aklan was given a boost as the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) recently gave its nod to the proposed P525, 400 high-value vegetable crop production project of the Aklan State University.
The project dubbed "Sustained Supply of Quality Vegetables: Off-Season High Value Vegetable Crop (HVVC) Production in the Province of Aklan was included in the 12 projects amounting to a total of P12.6 million approved for funding and implementation by the NEDA.
NEDA press report said these 12 projects in 10 regions of the country are under the KR2 Grant-supported Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP) of the Kennedy Round 2 (KR2) program.
The project on enhancing production of market-oriented organic food products in CALABRAZON by the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, Laguna in Region IV-A got the biggest portion of the budget with P5 million or almost 40 percent of the total budget allocation.
According to NEDA, Region 1 got the second biggest fund of P1.85 million for the Ecotourism Development of Bangin Marine Protected Area in Bani, Pangasinan while Region V had the third largest allocation with P1.4 million for its Pineapple By-products Processing and Utilization Project that will be implemented by the Camarines Norte State College.
On the other hand, Region IV-B has the biggest share with three projects amounting to a total of P1.29 million that include the Cassava Processing Plant and Trading Capital in Aborlan, Palawan, Cage Culture of Grouper at Barangay Batuhan, Pola, Oriental Mindoro and Organic Fertilizer Production in Luban, Occidental Mindoro. Also, the region has the fourth largest budget allocation and the three projects will be implemented by their respective local government units (LGUs).
To intensify domestic growth and investment, especially micro, small and medium enterprises, exports and agri-business, tourism and infrastructure, and addressing business concerns over power costs and red tape is just one of the initiatives by the present administration toward faster growth. (PIA)