PIA Press Release
Sunday, January 29, 2012

Info, marketing complexes soon to rise for agrarian communities in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Jan 29 (PIA) -- Officially called Agricultural Information and Marketing Center (AIM-C) for Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs), these wider scope “Bagsakan” complexes will soon rise at the countryside in Bohol.

“The logic is simple. You open up farm to market roads to make these areas accessible to development. Then you also open up information and marketing centers so production can be adjusted to demands while storage facilities also keep these harvests in a place where there is lesser chances of wastage,” explained DAR’s project engineer into building these structures.

Other than the AIM-C, Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) implementation of the country’s flagship social justice program in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms brings to four towns in Bohol stimulus funds through the foreign funded Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Program (ARISP III).

The ARISP-III has encouraged counterpart funds from LGUs for construction of irrigation and drainage facilities, post harvest facilities, farm to market roads, potable water supply development, institutional development and project administration, according to the ARISP-III website.

This also opens for Alicia, Balilihan, Catigbian and Danao the chance to access support funds from Japan Bank for International Cooperation of its AIM-C Post Harvest Facilities (PHF).

While several Bagsakan Centers have drastically altered the rural landscapes all over the country in the past years, these have been funded by the country’s agricultural modernization funds which have already dripped to a stop, this is learned.

In Alicia, the Central Project Monitoring Office (CPMO) has recommended revisions of its 72 sq.m. warehouse detailed design and program of works as proposed by the LGU following the October 28 survey.

ARISP spends for the warehouse building construction while the local government spends for the display center and office in the AIM-C

In Balilihan, its municipal AIM-C has already a P2.75-million budget and construction is ongoing with a 50 percent accomplishment to date.

The building project used the LGU counterpart funds and opting not to use the standard design furnished by the project proponents.

Here, the LGU puts up P2M for the project while ARISP III gives the remaining P750,000.

Another P8.6 million similar structure rises in Catigbian after the ARISP and LGU agree on implementing the revisions recommended by project consultants for the structure’s detailed design and program of work.

Like Balilihan, Catigbian also opted not to follow the standard design for these projects.

Soon, another AIM-C PHF (complex) will rise in Danao, after the feasibility study is completed and all the necessary requirements in place and complied with. (mbcn/rahc/PIA-Bohol)