Agri Dept. reveals P12.193-B PPP projects co-funded by Korea Eximbank

The Department of Agriculture on Monday revealed its first three projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme for the benefit of the agriculture and fisheries sectors, which will largely be funded by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) through the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank), an official said Monday.

 

DA Project Development Service director Zenaida M. Villegas said the projects include the the power generation and domestic water supply projects of the P11.212-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Iloilo, the P298-million Grains Central Project and the P683.7-million Cold Chain Project.

 

"Nagsisimula pa lang ang DA sa PPP,” she told GMA News Online. “These are the initial projects the department is working on," Villegas, who also heads the DA-PPP Unit coordinating staff, added.

 

The Agriculture Department will study the power generation and water supply aspects of the P11.212-billion JRMP II, which was initially packaged as an Official Development Assistance (ODA) project, Villegas noted.

 

"JRMP II is a hybrid project, with the dam component packaged first under ODA,” she said. “The PPP component of the project will be the power generation and water supply, and we're still going to conduct a study for that when the detailed engineering for the dam is completed," she added.

 

To be implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), JRMP II will irrigate agriculture areas in the province of Iloilo all year-round.

 

Of the total cost, P8.96- billion ($207.88 million) will be sourced from the Korea Eximbank and the balance from the government’s counterpart fund.

 

Construction of access roads to the site is on-going and NIA targets to finish the project before the end of term of President Aquino in 2016.

 

Private sector participation

 

The Grains Central Project involves private sector participation to rehabilitate, expand, and enhance 11 existing Post-Harvest Processing and Trading Centers currently managed and operated by the National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR) in Luzon and Mindanao.

 

Villegas said those in Luzon are located in Isabela, Quirino, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Camarines Sur, and those in Mindanao are in Alamada and Kabacan, both in North Cotabato, Banga and Malungon in South Cotabato, Talakag in Bukidnon, and Bayuga in Agusan del Sur.

 

"We presented the the Grains Central Project to Secretary Proceso J. Alcala today. We are now ready to submit documents to NEDA-ICC (National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee)," she said.

 

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) is the project proponent while NABCOR is the implementing agency.

 

In a separate statement Monday, Villegas said that the DA engaged Land Bank of the Philippines and the World Bank's private sector investment arm International Financial Corporation as transaction advisers.

 

Reducing postharvest losses

 

The Cold Chain Project is aimed at reducing postharvest losses, maintaining the freshness of perishable goods, and promoting direct marketing/online auctions.

 

PhilMech identified five routes under the Cold Chain Project, including Cagayan-Manila, Visayas-Inter-Island Connections, Manila-Cebu, Cebu-Manila, and Benguet-Manila.

 

The DA-PPP Unit has conducted ocular inspections on the potential sites for the Fruits and Vegetable Cold Chain Center in La Trinidad, Benguet and in Guiguinto, Bulacan for the AAA abattoir (slaughterhouse) project.

 

The department also consulted the local government units of Benguet and Bulacan to confirm the availability of sites, according to the statement. 

 

"Kapag na-settle na yung sites, we'll submit it to Secretary Alcala for approval," Villegas said. — VS, GMA News