DA - PRDP Ilocos Region

11/10/2026

#𝐏𝐑𝐃𝐏𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 | 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬, 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡, 𝐮𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝.

Government officials and local residents led the groundbreaking ceremony on October 8, 2026, for the ₱290.4-million San Vicente-Viga Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) with Bridge project. Implemented under the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Scale-Up, the infrastructure development aims to improve communities' market access and promote development programs in the area.

Farmers producing livestock such as goats and crops such as mangoes and rice have long endured high transport costs and severe post-harvest losses due to bumpy roads and seasonal flooding.

Thus, for the agricultural community, the 9.92-kilometer infrastructure project initiative is much more than just concrete. It is a lifeline.

Once completed, the new road and bridge will allow them to transport their harvests smoothly, safely, and directly to major trading hubs.

"Dakkel nga tulong daytuy project kenyami ta tatta ket marigatan ti farmers nga mangiyuli ti produkto da karu nu panagtutudu. Adda pay tiempo nga maisolate kami gapus ta dumakkel ti karayan (This project is a huge help to us because right now, farmers struggle to bring up their produce, especially during the rainy season. There are even times when we get isolated because the river swells)," shared Mark Ryan Ramirez, a local farmer and the barangay captain of San Vicente.

By reducing travel times and hauling expenses, the project is expected to directly improve livelihoods and increase the take-home income of over 3,700 households in the area.

07/10/2026

| The Philippine Rural Development Project Ilocos Region is in need of 𝟭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐭 𝐈.

All interested individuals are encouraged to submit their applications in person or via email ([email protected] or [email protected]) not later than October 13, 2026, at 9:00 AM.

For further details of this posting, visit this link: https://tinyurl.com/bdhrwh4u

02/10/2026

𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄, 𝐇𝐈𝐆𝐇-𝐕𝐀𝐋𝐔𝐄, 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐓-𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐍 𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐄! 🧅🌱🧅🌱

To champion food safety and elevate the market competitiveness of local onion growers, the Philippine Rural Development Project of DA-Region 1, through its I-REAP component, spearheaded a 3-day Training on the Philippine Good Agricultural Practices (PhilGAP) Certification Program for Fruits and Vegetables on September 28–30 in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

With onion as one of the province's prime commodities, the activity engaged 65 local onion growers from the Bacarra Multi-Purpose Cooperative, agricultural extension workers, and partner implementers from Provincial and Local Government Units (LGUs) to align on-farm practices with the Food Safety Act of 2013 (RA 10611).

Central to the training was the rigorous alignment of traditional production practices with the Philippine National Standard (PNS) Code of Good Agricultural Practices for Fruits and Vegetables.

Participants tackled essential on-farm management protocols tailored to onions, including evaluating plot site history, implementing nature-based soil and water conservation techniques, and strictly adhering to responsible fertilizer and pesticide applications.

Serving as the speaker, Ms. Mery Joyce Aglibao, Agriculturist II from DA-Region I, also emphasized sanitary harvesting and crop protection to curb biological and chemical hazards at the farm level.

“GAP compliance is vital in our farm operations because it is a gateway to better markets. It implies that agricultural products meet standards for food safety, produce quality, traceability, responsible production, consumers and producers safety while ensuring environmental protection,” Aglibao shared.

Through this strengthened collaboration between the DA-PRDP and local producers, the initiative seeks to accredit more PhilGAP-certified onion farms across Region I.

01/10/2026

𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐧𝐚 𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐤, 𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐰𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐠-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐚𝐩𝐞?! ☕👀

Tag mo yung officemate mong priorities complete pagdating sa kape!

Happy International Coffee Day mga KaPRDP!

Here is a coffee tidbit to share: The Philippines is among the few countries in the world that produce all four commercial species of coffee, namely Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica. Thanks to fertile soil and ideal elevation, Philippine coffee has huge potential to compete globally in terms of quality. However, this is yet to be seen.

Today, we also recognize our Filipino coffee farmers who face the daily grind to ensure that every Filipino gets a refreshing cup of coffee every day! But their struggles are real. This is why the Philippine Rural Development Project is helping scale quantity and improve quality through climate-resilient coffee infrastructure and enterprise support for farming communities.

Nagkape kan ba? Tag your fellow coffee lovers in the comment section below!

28/09/2026

#𝐏𝐑𝐃𝐏𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬: 𝐃𝐀-𝐑𝐅𝐎 𝟏 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝟏 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐑𝐃𝐏 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤

San Fernando City, La Union | Farmers and fisherfolk across Region 1 stand to benefit from faster, data-driven, and higher-standard public services as the Department of Agriculture - Regional Field Office 1 (DA-RFO 1) secures Badge 1: Initiated Level under the national Three-Badge System for mainstreaming Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) tools and innovations.

Conferred through the DA-PRDP Regional Project Coordination Office 1, this milestone marks the formal adoption of PRDP’s best practices, science-based planning tools, and proven project ex*****on standards into the agency's regular programs.

For local farmers and fisherfolk, the integration translates into more resilient farm-to-market roads, high-quality post-harvest infrastructure, better enterprise support, and other interventions that can serve as standard operating procedures across all regional agricultural initiatives even as PRDP ends.

The mainstreaming mechanism is anchored on key legal frameworks, notably the Sagip Saka Act of 2018 and DA Memorandum Order No. 75, s. 2021, along with the recent 2026 protocol governing the Three-Badge System.

Under this framework, field offices must progress from Badge 1 (Initiated Level) to Badge 2 (Applied Level), and ultimately reach Badge 3 (Institutionalized Level).

Achieving the initial badge confirms that DA-RFO 1 has mobilized dedicated mainstreaming focal persons, identified critical PRDP tools for field deployment, and aligned capacity-building activities across its operating divisions.

"This is truly a milestone for DA-Region I because we are the very first Regional Field Office among the DA RFOs to achieve the Badge I on PRDP mainstreaming. More than the badge itself, it shows that the systems, practices, and lessons we gained from PRDP are now becoming part of how we do our work," said Mr. Deo G. Rivera, DA-PRDP RPCO I Action Officer.

Meanwhile, DA-RFO I Regional Executive Director Fidel L. Libao congratulated the team on the milestone and encouraged the staff to build on this achievement and aim for Badge 2. He emphasized the importance of sustaining the good practices and strengthening the systems established through PRDP mainstreaming.

PRDP-RPCO I Deputy Project Director Engr. Dennis I. Tactac also urged division chiefs and banner program focal persons to embed these adopted PRDP tools into their respective ISO processes, ensuring the innovations are institutionalized right from the start.

DA PRDP 1 Institutional Development Officer Hasenmae Valencia also shared that the badge reflects DA’s commitment to providing quality services such as farm to market roads and cold storages aligned with PRDP’s guidelines.

24/09/2026

MAYAT A DAMAG KAILIYAN😃😃😃A new market emerges for PRDP-supported farmers as Dizon Farms expresses its intent to buy their produce.

Jonathan Viernesto of Dizon Farms shared that they are willing to support farmers' livelihoods in the Ilocos Region during the PRDP Scale Up's Stakeholder Consultation for the Formulation of the I-VCA for Salt and Onion, held in Baguio City from today until September 25.

Dizon Farms is one of the biggest agricultural enterprises in the Philippines, supplying fruits and vegetables to more than 260 supermarkets nationwide, including SM, Robinsons, and Rustan.

Viernesto shared that most of their suppliers are traders, and he expressed interest in buying directly from farmers. Accordingly, they are looking for at least 8 tons and 10 tons of yellow and red onions, respectively.

He mentioned that the PRDP's warehouse and cold storage projects can help ensure not only a sustainable but also a quality supply of onions.

Onions have been identified as one of the region's prime agricultural commodities, alongside salt.

Meanwhile, the consultation gave farmers the opportunity to get updates on market trends for onions and salt. It also provided a platform for them to share their lived experiences and insights as producers, ensuring that the interventions crafted address their actual needs.

23/09/2026

MANGGA YO, APO! 🥭🥭🥭 AMMO YO KADI? The Ilocos Region produces the highest volume of mangoes in the Philippines. Pangasinan leads among the four provinces, while Ilocos Sur is distinct for its Carabao mango strains. 🌳🌳🌳

For the local producers, mango is not just a sweet treat on hot days but a generational source of livelihood that has sustained their communities and influenced their cultural dynamics since time immemorial.

As one of the region's prime commodities, the PRDP project has been engaging with mango producers to ensure sustainable production while improving quality.

Nakaraman kayo kadin ti mangga ti Ilocandia? Anya makuna yo?

22/09/2026

21/09/2026

: 𝐋𝐆𝐔𝐬, 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡-𝐔𝐩 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐑𝐃𝐏 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧

BAGUIO CITY| Local Government Units (LGUs) and contractors across the Ilocos Region have been urged to step up the implementation of catch-up measures to complete delayed infrastructure subprojects before year-end.

The call was raised during the Department of Agriculture - Regional Project Coordination Office I (DA-RPCO 1) Semi-Annual Assessment and Strategic Action Planning Workshop held on September 21-22, where subproject leads presented and evaluated physical and financial slippages across Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, and Ilocos Norte.

To address these delays, proponent LGUs and contractors were pressed to execute their respective roles aggressively. Both parties were directed to implement recovery measures, such as adjusting work schedules, deploying additional manpower and equipment where necessary, and prioritizing critical, high-impact activities to minimize further slippage.

The push focuses on high-impact logistics assets, including onion cold storage facilities, agricultural warehouses, and bridge networks, all of which are considered essentials for local food producers.

For onion growers, delayed completion of cold storage facilities compels them into distress selling or watching their yields rot due to a lack of local storage. Unfinished bridges likewise force rural communities onto costly, hazardous detour routes, while incomplete warehouses prevent farmer cooperatives from consolidating crops for bulk buyers.

To support LGUs and contractors in executing their recovery plans and resolving operational bottlenecks, DA-RPCO 1 committed to holding regular coordination and management meetings with contractors and local government units.

"Kapag nag-recommend ang PRDP team, it’s not para pahirapan ang LGU and contractor, but to make things better. Kung may concern kayo na gusto niyong i-raise, feel free to raise it with us," urged Anthony Yanes, Rural Infrastructure Specialist.

By holding LGUs and contractors accountable to their project timelines, DA-RPCO 1 aims to ensure that these integrated PRDP subprojects are completed on time without compromising the engineering and safeguard standards required by the World Bank and the Department of Agriculture.

"Sana kung gaano kami kadalas mag-follow-up sa LGU, ganun po sana tayo mag-comply sa mga requirements," added Deo Rivera, Action Officer for PRDP Region I, who noted that proponents will be required to submit signed commitments for their catch-up plans.

Engr. Frederick Agasen, PRDP National Project Coordinating Office (NPCO) Roads and Bridges Specialist, emphasized that weather conditions should not be used as an excuse for project delays, as extensions are routinely granted for bad weather conditions. He stressed that delays stem primarily from inaction on the part of either the contractor or the LGU, underscoring the urgent need for decisive follow-up action.

“Hindi naman nagkulang sa support sa LGU ang PRDP. In fact, they are spoonfeeding us with the guidelines and helping us address arising problems. I am just hoping that at our level in the LGU, the assigned staff will proactively do their roles so we can deliver quality outputs. The same goes for the contractors — they should hire capable people to handle their technical assignments," shared Engr. BG Guillermo of LGU Rosales, Pangasinan.

Around 90 representatives from municipal and provincial LGUs, the PRDP NPCO, and Project Support Offices (PSOs) participated. They are expected to cascade the action points and updates presented throughout the two-day event.

21/09/2026

DAMAG KAILYAN 🙌🙌🙌

Today, we pause for peace 🕊️

On this International Day of Peace, let us remember that peace begins with the choices we make, with the words we speak, the understanding we extend, and the hands we reach out to.

Because peace is not just a day we celebrate. It is a future we build together.

Let’s choose dialogue over division, understanding over conflict, and hope over fear.

Today, the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) joins the global community in observing the International Day of Peace. Let us reaffirm our collective commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, mutual respect, and unity. Peace is not only celebrated today—it is nurtured through our everyday actions, partnerships, and shared responsibility to build a better future for all.