Beneficiaries participate project monitoring training

The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project recently conducted its Citizen Monitoring Team (CMT) training for the Malapag-Tinimbacan farm-to-market road in Carmen, North Cotabato.

CMT has been part of the Project’s innovation that involves the beneficiaries in project monitoring and evaluation. This activity promotes greater citizen participation as well as boost community ownership over infrastructure subprojects. It would also require the contractor to be more accountable in ensuring that all the guidelines will be followed.

Participants are equipped with basic knowledge on the quality standards of road construction based on the checklist that will be provided to them.

This farm-to-market road is a 4.5 kilometer road network from Barangay Tinimbacan of Banisilan to Barangay Malapag of Carmen to the market.

On-going construction of 4.5 kilometer FMR

One of its objectives is to rehabilitate the existing road by concrete paving. This will soon provide road for safe and economical access of commuters and products from the area of production to the market center or processing plant.

The living standards of the small farmers will be expected to improve through increased in  income as a result of reduced travel time, lower transportation cost, and decreased in post-harvest damages.

Engr. Maria Fe P. Gabunales of PSO IBUILD Component presented and discussed to the participants the usage of monitoring instrument and how they can help in ensuring that the contractor follows all the standard set by the project.

This project amounting to P48 million will benefit the 1,231 household within the road influence area. This also supports the commodity in the said barangays like rubber.

The Project also aims to increase agriculture production areas of farmers and increase economic activities once the project is completed. | Joy M. Montecalvo/PSO