Sustainability of the completed subprojects funded under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) is a major stage of the project development cycle. One of the ways to achieve this is to ensure that the DA team responsible for overseeing the implementation of operation and maintenance plans at the LGU level is well-equipped with knowledge of the auditing system for the infrastructure facilities funded under the Project.

That said, the Regional Operations and Maintenance Audit Team (ROMAT) from the 15 Regional Field Offices (RFOs) and MAFAR all over the country gathered to undergo retooling and training on the O&M Audit System (OMAS) spearheaded by the DA-PRDP I-BUILD Component from August 22-25, 2023 at Angeles City, Pampanga.

The activity involved a discussion of the tools and rating system for OMAS, reorientation on the operation and maintenance of different infrastructure types, and retooling on the use of the web-based data capture form called KoboToolbox.

During his presentation of the overview of OMAS, NPCO I-BUILD Component Head Engr. Roy Abaya emphasized the important role of the ROMAT and why there is a need to do OMAS for completed subprojects.

“When we refer to the status of the implementation of subprojects, it does not end on the post-construction, but more importantly, we assess these completed subprojects if the intended benefits are being achieved for the beneficiaries,” he said.

“Both the LGU and our team in the DA have a huge responsibility in ensuring the success of the project,” he added.

As discussed, the ROMAT, which is composed of organic personnel from DA, shall perform general functions, such as, evaluating the outcome/use of the completed subproject; assessing the physical, financial and institutional performance of the O&M plan and its implementation; and ensuring that the monitoring of the O&M plan implementation of the LGUs is included in the work and financial plan of the RPMC.

Meanwhile, to familiarize the participants with the tool for OMAS, the NPCO Governance and Geomapping Unit (GGU) presented the OMAS website (www.prdponline.net/home) where participants can access the data dashboard and forms including the KoboToolbox.

The plenary discussion was followed by an actual field visit to PRDP infrastructure subprojects in Moncada, Tarlac to capture their OMAS rating, in terms of functionality, and social and institutional status.

The participants visited the 14.69-km Improvement Capaoayan-Banaoang-Ablang-Sapang FMR which was completed in September 2018, followed by the warehouse/processing center, an I-REAP civil works completed in March 2019, granted to the Sapang Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SPMPC).

The four-day training was capped off with an encoding activity for the OMAS results and a feedback session on the use of the tool.

The OMAS is a monitoring tool of DA-PRDP that seeks to evaluate the strategies implemented by the LGUs benefiting from PRDP subprojects in order to maintain its quality and condition, ensuring progress for farmers and residents. It is conducted every six months after the completion of the subprojects.

Under the Implementation Management Agreement (IMA) between DA and the LGUs, the LGU beneficiaries shall operate and maintain the PRDP-funded infrastructure subprojects for a minimum of 10 years. (Ericson M. Guiao, PSO NL InfoACE)