Tubod, Lanao del Norte – The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has committed to improve the provincial roads of Lanao del Norte through its Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF) program.

The commitment was made by AusAID officials during the PRMF orientation last September 1, 2011 at Mindanao Civic Center (MCC) Hotel, in the capital town of Tubod, this province.

“Our mission is to help people overcome poverty. The Philippines is a rich country, but its people are poor”, AusAID Counsellor Andrew Egan noted.

Australian aid supports the anti-poverty programs of the Philippine government especially those focusing on increasing the level of government expenditure on social services and infrastructure, supporting improvements to national level budgeting and public financial management, and improving public sector management of road infrastructure at the provincial level.

“The assistance from AusAID will further spur economic growth in the countryside. With better roads, farmers will spend less on transportation and travel time. Fruits and vegetable will be fresher and farmers will get higher profit from their crops”, Governor Khalid Dimaporo said.

The PRMF has earmarked approximately 100-milllion dollars as budget for road rehabilitation.

Under this road development program, AusAID will grant Lanao del Norte 40-million pesos a year starting 2012 until 2014. Within the three-year partnership, both parties shall jointly indentify the priority roads for repair.

From September to October 2011, provincial roads throughout Lanao del Norte will be assessed by a joint inspection team for drafting of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) scheduled to be signed on November of this year by both parties.

Included in the priority roads proposed by the provincial LGU for immediate rehabilitation on the first year of the project is the Kapatagan-Sapad road.

“The first year will be our capacity-building phase. During this period, every concern department of the provincial government shall learn the intricacies of this new program by AusAID”, Provincial Engineer Marietta Borillo explained.

Three other provinces in region 10 have also qualified for funding assistance by AusAID - Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon.  LAR & VNL/PIO-LDN