The project addressed the key constraints to living conditions and income enhancement of the beneficiaries and their communities through a process of participatory needs assessment at the barangay level. The project concept emphasizes a demand-driven approach, local governance, and commitment from and ownership by beneficiaries. This requires a high degree of participation by beneficiaries and their community for identification, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and maintenance of Project interventions. Most of the proposed activities are devolved to the LGUs,and equity participation by stakeholders (POs, ARBs,LGUs) is a major consideration. The identification and selection of the ARCs follows DAR's criteria for prioritization.The primary objective of the Project is poverty reduction. This will be pursued by supporting the Government's strategy for equitable distribute of rural wealth (agricultural land) and income through ARC development. More specific, the project will increase the income of the farmers in the ARCs, improve the quality of life in the ARCs by providing basic social infrastructure, and enhance agricultural production and productivity in a sustainable manner. The Project if fully implemented will (i) provide rural infrastructure in response to a participatory identification process; (ii) facilitate improved access by the ARBs and other farm families in the selected ARCs to productive resources and markets; (iii) expedite the survey and titling of public alienable and disposable lands under the CARP; and (iv) provide support for the implementation of the Project, including support to the CARP line agencies, LGUs, and POs for delivery of resources and services that will enhances the incomes of both beneficiaries and their organizations.


The Project provides an integrated, complementary package of investment, support services, and TA. This will enhance beneficiary and community incomes by reducing input supply and marketing costs, and increasing production and productivity, facilitated by better access to technology, asset security (land survey and titling),and nonfarm income generation. This will be accomplished as a result of infrastructure investments (rural roads/bridges,potable water system and irrigation) complementary development support services, credit and community development activities (e.g., organizations of irrigators' associations, barangay water and sanitation associations (BW/SAs), cooperatives and other POs). Since the Project is demand-driven and participatory with an emphasis on proactive LGU involvement and assisted self-reliance, capacity building, institutional strengthening, and training for stakeholders are included in the project. However, this will mainly be complementary to support well-defined activities and investment, which are requested and agreed to by the beneficiaries and other stakeholders. As s consequence of the design and implementation arrangements, LGU capacity building will be a significant spin-off effect on the Project. The emphasis will be on local institution building and organizational development rather than individual skill building.