The government will pour investments in the countryside for economic empowerment of rural poor and to encourage its dwellers to stay in these communities and avoid congesting the Metropolis.
These are the paramount goals of the National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD), led by four of the biggest departments of the government: Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Environment and Natural Resources, and Interior and Local Government.
As lead convenor of the (NCI-SRD), Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol stressed that it is very important for the four agencies to come together and work as one.
“These are trying times and we must unify our efforts and action plans,” his message, delivered by Agriculture Undersecretary Ranibai D. Dilangalen, states.
The National Convergence Initiative for Sustainable Rural Development (NCI-SRD) is a complementation strategy among the four rural development agencies under a common goal of poverty reduction and sustainable countryside development. It aims to provide integrated delivery of services and programs to rural farming, fishing, and upland communities of the country.
Through the enhanced framework, the NCI-SRD will undertake joint planning, programming and budgeting as well as monitoring and evaluation in the achievement of the sectoral goals and targets of the plan. One pilot area per region will be chosen.
Success stories have already been made in convergence model sites in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, Javier Leyte, and Siayan, Zamboanga Del Norte.
According to Piñol’s message, the convergence aims to lower poverty incidence, produce livelihood from rural areas, generate economic activities, and uplift the lives of the Filipino people.
“We will streamline the processes and make the turnaround time of every projects faster,” Piñol further stressed.
Collaborating with Piñol are DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano, DENR Secretary Regina Paz Lopez, and DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno as Co-Convenors. Last November 14, 2016, agreements and resolutions were signed which strengthens further the mandate and vision for a progressive and productive rural sector.
These are the following: 1. Adopting the DA-DENR-DILG Joint Administrative Order No. 1 series of 2015 Under the Duterte Administration; 2. Requesting NEDA to Task the Regional Development Councils to Consider Convergence Initiative Projects as Regional Priorities; 3. Recommending to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to Include the Construction of On-Farm Roads and Flood Control Dams in the National Greening Program Development Plan by Tapping the Department of Public Works and Highways; 4. Requesting the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to Classify Convergence Initiative Sites as Economic Zones; 5. Resolution endorsing the renewal of membership of the Government of the Philippines (GOP) to the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) and designating the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) as the lead agency to represent. (DA-AFID)
Reference: Atty. Ranibai D. Dilangalen Undersecretary for Special Concerns Tel No. (02) 9242178
