World Bank visits PRDP’s Cassava and Cacao Subprojects in South Cotabato

The World Bank consultants visited the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Cassava and Cacao Subprojects of South Cotabato for its World Bank Side Mission.
Earlier, the team of WB consultants led by Ms. Agnes Deshormes and the National Project Coordination Office of the Department of Agriculture Central Office visited the PRDP subprojects on cassava and cacao in Brgys. Polo and Sulit, respectively, under the lead Proponent Groups of Polo Samahang Nayon and,Tibud sa Katibawasan Multipurpose Cooperatives. This is in coordination with the Project Support Office, DA 12 Regional Project Coordination Office, the Provincial Local Government Unit of South Cotabato, the Lead Proponent Groups and their respective cluster members, and the Municipal Local Government Unit of Polomolok. This includes site visits to the cassava and cacao processing plants in the mentioned areas followed by stakeholders group discussions where the best practices of the province on the clustering approach for the agricultural subprojects from the cluster members serve as the basis for the WB to replicate the same modality for the upcoming Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) Phase II scale up funding. The World Bank lauds South Cotabato for the big brother approach of the lead PG towards its cluster members thus achieving the best results and attaining its objective to sustain the projects and increase the income of the farmer-beneficiaries. As Ms. Deshormes states “The end part is the best part.” This means that South Cotabato representing Mindanao for the WB Side mission and as the last destination for their visit mirrors the best effect that the cluster approach has to offer.