Capitol investments set at P176.4M for '08
Over P176.4 million in agriculture and fishery projects and similar investments are up in next year's planned expenditures of the Iloilo Provincial Government.
Identified by the Capitol in its Annual Investment Progam, P7.5 million is set for agribusiness information center, crops and rice development programs.
There will also be full-term projects geared at feed grains development and high value crops development. This, alongside crops protection and pest disease surveillance program and livestock upgrading here.
For now twelve project proposals were in place for the agribusiness information center where provision of information centers are up.
Rice development program is designed to enhance rice production through seed procurement and distribution. Further still is the enhancement training for extension workers promoting the Palay Check System.
The plan also includes the development of municipal seed farms, utilization of organic fertilizers and massive adoption of "palayamanan" farming systems in rain-fed based areas.
Expected outputs here is the reduction of production cost by P5,000 per hectare alongside increased yield.
"The province is highly-sulted for the production of high-value crops like vegetables, mango, banana, coffee and cutflowers. The program will also provide production inputs and high-quality planting materials. An area will be established to serve as model farm for the propagation of seedlings/suckers and will showcase the recommended production technology," the high-value crops development program went.
Other planned expenditures here include P600,000 for nutrition services program of the Capitol, P4.5 million in provincial scholarships and P1.5 million for social welfare development programs.
Iloilo's out-of-school youths, on the other hand, will have P400,000 in programmed budget allocation.
"This program will train and equip the out-of-school youths and adults the necessary skills in pursuit of gainful employment for the economic well-being of their family and for them to be globally competitive," the plan went.