SURIGAO CITY, Philippines – At least nine municipalities and one city in the province of Surigao del Norte are being targeted to benefit from the government’s poverty alleviation program under the Mindanao Rural Development Program-Adaptable Program Loan Phase 3 (MRDP 3).

The nine municipalities were named as Socorro, Del Carmen, Sison, Tubod, Gigaquit, Malimono, Placer, Bacuag, Alegria, all in Surigao del Norte, and this city.

Local officials said these towns and this city are set to benefit from the R190 million funding under the MRDP 3 program.

The MRDP 3 is a poverty alleviation initiative implemented through the Department of Agriculture (DA) ande jointly funded by the World Bank, national government, and various local government units (LGUs).

MRDP seeks to further improve rural incomes and achieve food security through agri-fishery, water system improvement, infrastructure, livelihood enterprise, and biodiversity conservation projects.

The announcement was made by Surigao del Norte 1st District Rep. Francisco T. Matugas, and Surigao del Norte Governor Sol F. Matugas during a planning, budgeting, and consultation meeting at a city hotel and convention center here over the weekend.

The meeting, attended by other top officials of the province, including town mayors and budget officers and line agencies of the government, aimed at developing good planning and budgeting for effective governance.

It was learned that development planning for effective governance governing the dual role of local government units – the political unit and the corporate body – and service flow chart were also tackled during the meeting.

The meeting also emphasized budgeting processes, roles, responsibilities, and challenges regarding the program.

Both the lawmaker and the governor cited the vital role of mayors in all social services program currently implemented by the Aquino administration, particularly infrastructure projects and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

“Everybody here has a vital role to play to improve the living condition of our people and move this province forward,” stressed Congressman Matugas.

He said other towns of the province will also be covered under the MRDP 3 program.