Significant emerging benefits from the completed 6.48-kilometer Rehabilitation of the Tubigay-Baracbac-Nacullooban Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in the municipality of Sinait, Ilocos Sur were determined by a team from the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), following a series of interviews with selected key project beneficiaries conducted from April 18-22, 2022.

To determine the impact and success of the subproject in attaining the projected benefits and assess the current efforts and sustainability plans of the Local Government Units (LGUs) and other stakeholders, the Rapid Appraisal of Emerging Benefits (RAEB) team collected data through a series of interviews such as Focus Group Discussions (FGD), Household Surveys, Key Informant Interviews (KII), and Spot Interviews with barangay officials, households, residents, farmers, and Project Affected Persons (PAPs) within the road influence area (RIA) of the FMR that interconnects three barangays, namely, Tubigay, Baracbac and Nagcullooban.

Among the noted socio-economic benefits experienced and attested by the respondents brought by the implemented 76.5M-worth FMR are reduced travel time, improved travelling conditions, increased traffic counts, increased productivity, and access to various government services.

Moreover, it was also observed that the completed road has greatly helped the mango farmers, resulting in reduced transport losses and improved marketing practices that augmented their income.

According to Tubigay Barangay Captain Amador T. Caliboso, the construction of the road in their area has improved the daily activities in their community and expressed gratitude to the people behind the subproject.

“Masayang masaya ako na isa kami sa nabigyan ng ganitong proyekto mula sa DA-PRDP dahil dito sa magandang kalsada maayos na nakakapunta ang mga residente dito, gaya ng mga estudyante, empleyado, may sakit at iba pa, na makapunta sa eskwela at ibang lugar nang mas maayos at ligtas. Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa mga taong tumulong para sa proyektong ito,” Caliboso expressed.

The series of interviews with selected key project beneficiaries by the RAEB team was spearheaded by the DA-PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) North Luzon Cluster, in collaboration with the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) 1, composed of representatives from the I-BUILD and I-SUPPORT Components, with assistance from the designated Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) officials.

RAEB is an evaluation tool designed to assess the impact of implemented subprojects on intended beneficiaries, as well as to have an overview on how these subprojects contributed to the attainment of the DA-PRDP’s project development goals. It specifically gathers both primary and secondary data to assess whether the desired outcomes and stream of benefits are likely or unlikely to be achieved. It also identifies the challenges and hindrances in the subproject’s implementation and helps determine solutions, practices and sustainability measures.

The conducted evaluation initiative for the said FMR under the I-BUILD Component is part of the preparation for the upcoming 14th World Bank Implementation Support Mission to the DA-PRDP, scheduled to kick-off on May 23, 2022. The same will be done for another I-REAP subproject in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte this week. (By: Ericson M. Guiao, PSO North Luzon InfoACE)