5 Kalinga towns to be under CHARM 2
by L. Lopez
TABUK CITY (13 August) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA)-Cordillera Region is working for the extension of the Cordillera Highland Agricultural Resources Management (CHARM) project in the region and its expansion to all six provinces after its termination in 2004.
According to CHARM Project Director Cameron Odsey, who turned over certified vegetable seeds to the province here last week, five towns in upper Kalinga will be included in the service area of the CHARM project in its impending extension in CHARM 2 next year.
CHARM, jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Philippine government, aims to develop highland agriculture and increase income of poor highland farmers, improve highland forest and waterways and ensure food security to upland areas.
The project gives special assistance to local government units in highland places which are relatively poor and with high poverty incidence, with poor income class and not a recipient of CHARM aid in the past, Odsey said.
This is made under the efforts of government in established tie-up with foreign funding agencies for poverty alleviation program.
Odsey said his office submitted a P137M budget proposal counterpart for the Cordillera to DA head office, as initial fund so that the project can start in 2008.
Before IFAD approves the joint undertaking, it requires its partner country to produce its funding counterpart.
Odsey is soliciting endorsements from the Cordillera governors in pushing the project before DA head office, otherwise IFAD will bring the project elsewhere. He hopes the proposed budget counterpart for the Cordillera will fall within the DA budget ceiling and be approved. (PIA Kalinga) [top]
