October 3, 2014

NAGA CITY – As part of the Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) commitment to promote government competency, integrity and transparency in implementing and monitoring projects, the Department of Agriculture Regional Program Coordination Office (RPCO) 5 conducted back to back trainings on Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES), Applied Geotagging Technology (AGT) and Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (RBME) and Pre-Procurement of Works for the Project Support Office (PSO) Luzon B provincial local government units (PLGUs). The trainings, which also aimed to expedite the preparation of technical documents and implementation of Philippine Rural Development (PRDP) sub-projects (SPs) in the region, were held on September 30 to October 2, 2014 and September 30 to October 1, respectively at Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City.

About 23 Provincial Program Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) members from the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), Social Environmental Safeguards (SES) and Monitoring Divisions of Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon attended the SES, AGT and RBME training. They were joined by the PPMIU from Occidental Mindoro and Romblon as well as the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Sipocot, Camarines Sur. Meanwhile, 14 Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) members from Albay, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte came for the training on Pre-Procurement of Works.

The back to back training was graced by Vice Governor Fortunato “Ato” Peña, who motivated the participants to practice Christian innovative leadership in their undertaking. “We want innovative leaders who are not only kind but also capable–who have the capability—mental and intellectual capacity, moral capacity and physical capacity to lead people,” he said.

This was supported by PSO Luzon B Director Shandy M. Hubilla who encouraged the participants to make the most of the knowledge they will gain from the training and practice integrity in doing their works. “Christian leadership, yun po talaga ang susi. Sabi nga po, ‘If you have knowledge and energy but you don’t have integrity, the first two won’t count,’” he said. He also presented an overview of the PRDP objectives and its contribution to the Philippine Development Plan, program components and cost-sharing. Moreover, he discussed the milestones in PRDP processing and verbalized his hope for the issuance of No Objection Letter 1 (Clearance for Publication) to Regional Program Advisory Board (RPAB)-approved SPs in Bicol.

Ma. Iris D. Millendez, PSO Luzon B SES focal person, provided updates on the Integrated Environment and Social Safeguards Framework of PRDP. She also lectured on the SES compliance process, shared good SES compliance practices, and facilitated a workshop using the SES Form on the Entitlement Survey of Affected Persons. Simultaneously held was the training on the Philippine bidding document, pre-bid conference, bid opening, bid evaluation, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PHILGEPS) posting and common causes of re-bidding conducted by Maria Rhoda Lavinia D. Mendoza, procurement officer from Luzon B and Arch. Eliza Abad, procurement specialist from the National Program Coordinating Office (NPCO). They also conducted a lecture and workshop on bid evaluation report (BER) preparation and process.

NPCO Geographic Information System (GIS) data specialists Joseph C. Pacon and Engr. Arnel Tenorio shared their expertise in applied geo-tagging tool (AGT), AGT applications and online features and basic global positioning system (GPS) operations. Tenorio also presented an overview of the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) training and provided assistance in the installation of AGT applications. A major highlight of the AGT training is the hands-on demonstration on geo-tagging during the participants’ field visit at the RPAB-approved SP in Brgy. San Isidro to Brgy. Pag Oring in Libmanan, Camarines Sur. Moreover, they were also trained on database management including annotation, geospatial object color scheme and AGT data submission.

NPCO Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) specialist Jourvin Barrera provided an overview of the M & E system while PSO Luzon B MIS Officer Perseverando Sinogba oriented the participants on the M&E tools including data capture form, entry form, database, and report forms as well as uploading and submission of data. He then facilitated a workshop using the RBME tool. Also, Barrera lectured on Social Safeguards Identification and Compliance and Tracking Framework. Moreover, PSO Luzon B Compliance Officer Michael Gregory Vargas discussed the overview of PRDP legal documents.

“We’re really amazed at the newly-acquired knowledge na magagamit namin sa trabaho sa planning. We also appreciate the information about the documentary requirements that need to be complied,” Engr. Elsie Reyes, Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO) of the Province of Catanduanes, said.

Through the SES training, DA will guarantee the environmental and social rationality and sustainability of the SPs to be implemented. It will also ensure that the projects will not adversely affect the people and the environment. Meanwhile, AGT is an information and communications technology (ICT) tool aimed at developing appreciation of information on commodities particularly in the establishment of the situation obtained in a commodity chain during value chain mapping. AGT saves time and resources by allowing analysts and stakeholders to visualize the site condition without actually going to the area. With the use of AGT, plan formulation, monitoring, and precise location of SPs are ensured. RBME tool, on the other hand, is a practical mechanism which allows regular and round-the-clock tracking of SPs’ implementation progress. Finally, the lecture on pre-procurement of works is PSO Luzon B’s proactive measure against common causes of re-bidding which delay the SP implementation. (Annielyn L. Baleza, I-SUPPORT InfoACE Unit, DA-RAFID 5)