The Department of Agrarian Reform on Sunday vowed to intensify war against poverty in settlement areas through the Official Development Funds (ODA).
ODA is a government financial aid that promotes and specifically targets the economic development and welfare of developing countries, of which the Philippines is among them.
Secretary Conrado Estrella III said they would implement programs and projects to alleviate poverty, develop agribusiness, generate employment, and promote peace and order in settlement areas to be funded under the ODA.
He created a project development team tasked to find out which among the identified 57 settlement areas in the country need assistance to improve their living conditions.
The team, to be headed by Dr. Ma. Cristina Dagdag, would undertake the preparation and packaging of project proposals that could provide various support services, including training, market links, credit assistance, farm-to-market roads, bridges, irrigation, and potable water systems.
DAR shall spearhead the project implementation with funds to be sourced from developing countries, such as Japan, France, Spain, and others.
Estrella said the move is in line with the priority program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to develop agriculture, enhance food production, and eradicate hunger and poverty.