BAGUIO CITY — The Cordillera Regional Project Advisory Board (RPAB) has approved infrastructure subprojects totaling Php441 million for funding under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up in a meeting held today, May 7, 2025.
In her message, DA CAR Regional Executive Director and RPAB Chair Atty. Jennilyn M. Dawayan emphasized that the approval of the RPAB marks a critical step toward the issuance of the No Objection Letter (NOL), which signals the start of procurement activities.
Among the approved subprojects are the Rehabilitation of Puntagguwan-Poblacion Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Hingyon, Ifugao with an estimated project cost of PhP9.77 million (M); the Improvement of Bannit-Nunhabatan-Hapid Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Lamut, Ifugao valued at PhP144.26 M; and the Construction of Malamtam-Bitabit-Catao FMR with Bridge in Paracelis, Mountain Province, with a total project cost of P287M.
The Puntagguwan–Poblacion CIS subproject seeks to enhance the existing irrigation canal servicing Barangays Cabbuyan South and Poblacion.
Engr. Edwin Camhit, Cordillera Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO-CAR) Rural Infrastructure Engineer, stated that the municipal government carried out irrigation surveys to ensure proper water flow. Although the irrigation system has been used since the 1980s, limited resources has hampered repair and maintenance, resulting in damage that now requires rehabilitation.
Upon completion, the irrigated service is seen to expand significantly, from 2.68 to 26.56 hectares. The subproject also ensures a reliable water supply throughout the entire heirloom rice production calendar, helping farmers increase yields and sustain rice sufficiency until the next cropping season.
Mary Jane Abance, DILG Local Gov’t Capacity Division Chief, recommended the creating a local ordinance to involve the community in the operations and maintenance of the subproject to ensure sustainability.
Meanwhile, the improvement of the 6.62-kilometer Bannit–Nunhabatan–Hapid FMR in Lamut, Ifugao, will cover Barangays Payawan and Hapid, two of the municipality’s largest barangays. The road improvement will directly benefit 796 households, serving 2,956 individuals (1,698 male and 1,258 female) within its influence areas.
With a focus on supporting cardava banana production, the subproject is expected to improve mobility, reduce travel time, and enhance transport quality helping ensure that farm produce reaches markets in fresher condition.
During the deliberation, Planning and Design Division Chief Engr. Arnold Dacwag of the Department of Public Works and Highways highlighted the need to enhance the slope protection design of the subproject to prevent erosion in the upper area which was supported by Abance, who echoed the need for preventive measures.
The 9.05-kilometer Malamtam–Bitabit–Catao FMR with bridge will begin at Sitio Catao, Barangay Buringal, Paracelis, and end in Barangay Dummon, Quezon, Isabela.
While the road primarily passes through Barangay Buringal, it is expected to benefit residents of Barangay Bacarri as well as nearby communities in Tabuk City, Kalinga, including Malalao and Calaccad. The subproject will also link with an existing PRDP road in Isabela, enhancing regional connectivity.
In his presentation, Mountain Province Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Daniel Likigan shared that a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the local governments of Mountain Province and Isabela since 1.8 kilometers of the road falls within Isabela’s jurisdiction.
The road improvement will directly benefit 876 households, serving 3,399 individuals (1,803 male and 1,596 female) within its influence areas. Once completed, the subproject is expected to improve access to education, healthcare, and essential services, significantly uplifting the quality of life in the area.
With the approval of these new subprojects, RPCO-CAR Deputy Project Director Danilo P. Daguio expressed optimism about the continued implementation of rural development efforts, even with the upcoming elections that may bring changes in local leadership. He emphasized that, regardless of the outcome, the initiatives are expected to benefit over 6,000 Cordillerans.
With the RPAB’s approval, these subprojects will be endorsed to the DA-PRDP National Project Coordination Office or RPCO-CAR for the issuance of No Objection Letter 1 (NOL1).
The RPAB plays a key role in guiding the DA-PRDP RPCO in reviewing and ensuring effective implementation of policies for project execution. Current RPAB members include representatives from the regional offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, DA-Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, and Department of Public Works and Highways. By Elvy T. Estacio
