DA rolls out P96.414B worth of PPP projects

The Department of Agriculture plans to develop about P96.414 billion worth of infrastructure projects under the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership program, a Cabinet official said this weekend. These projects were submitted last month to the National Economic Development Authority, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala told reporters. "Most of these projects have either passed the feasibility phase or are still in the concept phase. We have already earmarked six major projects on irrigation for possible approval and implementation next year," Alcala said. The biggest of the initial 17 projects is the P18.5-billion Balog-Balog multipurpose project in Tarlac, which will supply irrigation water to 21,935 hectares of rice field, and supplemental water to 12,475 hectares under the existing irrigation system. The Balog-Balog multipurpose project will also generate an estimated 43.5 megawatts (MW) of hydroelectric power. Another project is the P15.67-billion Balintingon reservoir multipurpose project, expected to irrigate 14,900 hectares of rice fields in the eastern Central Luzon and generate 30 MW of primary energy for the Luzon grid. The P15.2 billion Jalaur river multipurpose project in Iloilo will supply irrigation water to 12,000 hectares of rice fields, supplemental water to 22,340 hectares under the existing irrigation system, and about 11.5 MW of hydroelectric power as well as domestic water supply for the locality. The Ilocos Norte irrigation project will cost about P14.99 billion while the Kabulnan-2 multipurpose irrigation and power project in Mindanao will cost around P14.4 billion. Both projects will provide irrigation to their respective localities and water and hydroelectric power for domestic use. All integrated water projects under the PPP program need to incorporate irrigation development, power generation, fisheries development, flood control or drainage system, road or bridge system, and reforestation or watershed management to qualify for funding assistance. Other projects in the initial list that are open for the PPP program are the P1.3-billion cold-chain system project, the P1.42-billion grains central and bulk handling facility, the P1.5 billion logistics support on agri-fishery products supply chain, the P2.34 billion Tumauini river multipurpose project, and the P3.385-billion Matuno river development project. Also included in the DA’s list are the P1.79-billion Philippine dairy development project, P2.2 billion organic rice farming program, P2.8 billion integrated agri-food park, P850-million agricultural commodity exchange system, P5-million contract farming, P15 million integrated Lucban longganisa processing project, and P50-million aquaculture or mariculture project. —JE/VS, GMANews.TV