A Godsend to farmers
and fishermen

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Once again the World Bank is coming in with help for the sectors that need it most. The announcement that it is extending a $508 million loan for farmers and fishermen in the Philippines could not have come at a more opportune time.

The whole world knows that the recent calamities that have affected the country had wrought the worst devastation on the marginalized people, among whom are the fishermen and small farmers. The fishermen did not only lose their main equipment for their livelihood, which are their boats, but the seas and rivers on which they depended on for the catch that brought their earnings had also been disturbed by the tropical depressions.

As for the farmers, few had been left with crop undamaged or plants not destroyed. Even their homes were blown off by the winds of the typhoons, as were many other structures in their communities.

The efforts of various groups and charitable foundations have helped, but, with their limited resources, they could only go so far. To this day, many have still not rehabilitated their lives.

That is why the World Bank announcement will be a Godsend to them. As explained by the WB, the financial package will be under the Philippine Rural Development Project that is aimed at improving the productivity of small farmers and fisherfolk, as well as their access to markets.

That is why the financing will also be used for infrastructure projects of local government units, such as farm-to-market roads, bridges, irrigation and potable water systems, post harvest facilities, as well as fish landings and fish sanctuaries, trading posts and solar driers, among others.

The loan is to be supervised by the PRDP that will monitor the projects and ensure that the purposes for which it has been granted are fully complied with. It is to be hoped that the PRDP will also strictly see to it that all the funds are used properly so that the hoped-for development will fully take place.*