Malilipot, Albay — To facilitate the implementation of agri-fishery plans via enhancing the local commodity investment planning process, the I-PLAN Component (Investment Planning for Agriculture) of Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) in Bicol conducted a four-day orientation on Regional Perspective Planning Process in Malilipot, Albay on March 12-15, 2024.

Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, and Naga City participated in the activity. Representatives from Planning & Monitoring Evaluation Division (PMED), and Field Operations Division (FOD) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Office 5 were also present during the orientation.

In her welcome message, Adelina A. Losa, RPCO V Deputy Project Director encouraged the LGUs to propose I-REAP subprojects. She also said that the PRDP is planning to mainstream its processes to the Banner programs of DA.

“Titingnan natin kung paano imi-mainstream ang magagandang progress ng PRDP sa Banner Programs and in the provinces,” she said.

During the workshop, Jerome M. Suarez, GIS Officer, NPCO GGU shared his insight on the investment Planning Dashboard and GGU: Artificial Intelligence. Alene M. Gregorio, Planning Officer, PSO South Luzon explained the Background on Investment Planning and Programming. She said that Investment Planning is a continuous process. It starts with planning, Investment programming, Budgeting, Implementation, and Monitoring and Evaluation. Mae Jade Peñas, Planning Officer, PSO South Luzon discussed the features and process of the Regional Perspective in Planning. 

Sarah Jane Taway, Planning Officer II of Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) Catanduanes, said that this activity will help them in the prioritization of Programs, Activities, Projects (PPAs) to be budgeted & implemented using science-based tools.

“Catanduanes is frequently visited by typhoons, having this kind of training which emphasizes climate risks, climate mitigation strategies and climate change adaptation can be considered in the formulation of PPAs,” she said.

The planning process provides a broader and deeper analysis of local investment plans to identify strategic interventions and serve as bases for developing complementary subprojects or PPAs of other offices and agencies.

“Mas broader na ngayon ang plans. Since PRDP scale-up na, dapat scale up din ang plans, the Regional Perspective planning process aims to do this by crafting RAFIP which ang interventions ay multi commodity, multi segment and inter provincial” Ermar Dela Cruz, PRDP RPCO 5 I-PLAN Project Development Associate said.

In her closing remarks, Aloha Gigi Bañaria, RPCO 5 I-PLAN Component Head said that the Regional Perspective focused on further improving the utilization of existing Provincial and City Commodity Investment Plans (CIPs) as both references for leveraging investments and integrating into the plans and processes of the Department of Agriculture. 

“Hindi po bago ang concept ng Regional Perspective. This was already introduced during the roll-out activities of the enhanced Operations Manual particularly for our I-PLAN counterparts,” she said.

The product of this process will be the Regional Agriculture and Fishery Investment Portfolio (RAFIP) that will serve as the basis for the rational identification and prioritization of projects. # (Shaira Enimedez, PRDP RPCO InfoAce Unit)

Mae Jade Peñas, Planning Officer, PSO South Luzon (top), discussed the features and process of the Regional Perspective in Planning. While Alene M. Gregorio (bottom), Planning Officer, PSO South Luzon (right), explained the Background on Investment Planning and Programming.

Different Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs) in Bicol and DA Regular participated during the orientation on Regional Perspective Planning Process on March 12-15, 2024 in Malilipot, Albay.