To have an overview of the accomplishments and future targets of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), the Project Support Office (PSO) North Luzon Cluster, together with the Regional Project Coordination Offices (RPCOs), held a coordination meeting at the Subic Bay Travelers Hotel, Olongapo City, Zambales from March 10-11, 2022.

The activity was aimed to present updates on the overall accomplishments of the cluster, financial updates on I-BUILD and I-REAP subprojects, status of the Implementation Management Agreement (IMA) and Procurement, and the targets and activities of all RPCOs for 2022.

PSO North Luzon Deputy Project Director Elma S. Mananes led the presentation for the overall accomplishment of the cluster that includes fund utilization for Original Loan and Additional Financing of all the components, approved number I-BUILD and I-REAP subprojects, and their progress in both financial and physical statuses, among others.

Under the I-PLAN component, Region 1 has the highest number of commodities covered in the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP); Region 2 has the highest number of Value Chain Analysis (VCA); and Region 3 with the highest number of Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP)-translated commodities.

Meanwhile, completed I-BUILD subprojects increased by 16% in number, with 18 completed subprojects (SPs) and 31% in cost, with PhP1.12 billion in 2021, for a total of 133 completed infrastructure subprojects and PhP5.34 billion. PSO North Luzon’s I-BUILD Component ranked third in the national cumulative financial status, based on Obligations Vs Disbursement, while second in the 2021 Target versus Actual Disbursement.

As for the I-REAP Component, 38 SPs worth PhP199 million were completed in 2021, with 14 (PhP57.19 million) in CAR, 1 (PhP18.52 million) in the Ilocos Region, 7 SPs (PhP83.13 million) in the Cagayan Valley region, and 16 SPs (PhP40.28 million) in the Central Luzon region. PSO North Luzon’s I-REAP Component ranked second in the national cumulative status (Obligations Vs Releases) while third in the 2021 Target versus Actual Releases.

In her speech, DPD Mananes thanked the RPCOs for their continuous support and effort in achieving such accomplishments for the cluster and its intended beneficiaries in the agricultural and fishery sectors. She then urged everyone to continue the dedication in work to deliver what needs to be delivered or what is expected from the cluster.

Also present during the coordination meeting were participants from Provincial/City/Municipal Project Monitoring and Implementation Unit (P/C/MPMIU) from various LGUs in the cluster.

Ericson Guiao (PSO North Luzon, InfoACE)