By Joan Dapidap, RPCO1 Writer

Cascading best practices developed through the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) to regular program implementation relating to efficient planning to maximize investment opportunities for the agri-fishery sector from provincial to regional in scope, the IPLAN Component of the Regional Project Coordination Office I (RPCO I) conducted an Orientation on the Regional Perspective Planning from September 24-27, 2024 in Baguio City.

Aimed at improving the local-level commodity investment planning process, the activity, which brought together regional and local government planners composing the Regional Core Planning Team (RCPT), focused on facilitating the implementation of strategic agri-fishery development plans through better investment alignment.

The workshop provided participants with essential insights and practical skills on how to incorporate the Regional Perspective into their investment planning processes. By aligning plans with broader regional goals, the participants are expected to enhance their capacity in the identification and prioritization of agri-fishery investments.

Various topics were discussed by the IPLAN team such as the Regional Perspective, its process flow and the importance of adopting a regionalized approach to agricultural and fisheries planning presented by Ms. Milagros G. Dela Rosa, Planning Specialist. The participants were also briefed about the Regional Agri-Fishery Investment Portfolio (RAFIP), its framework and features designed to guide investments that meet the region’s specific commodity and development needs.

Introducing the Regional Perspective in Investment Planning, Ms. Karen Ashley S. Abrigo, IPLAN Planning Officer presented an outline on how proper strategic planning is key to optimizing the benefits of agri-fishery interventions.

Through the Geomapping and Governance Unit (GGU), Mr. Deo G. Rivera, GGU head, provided a hands-on lecture on Basic Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS). Participants were trained in using QGIS for mapping and spatial analysis, which are critical in guiding investment decisions and ensuring plans are well-coordinated across the region.

The training also introduced the use of the Investment Dashboard, which helps monitor and evaluate the success of investment projects.

“Through this training, we hope to mainstream our effective science-based tools from PRDP to our regular program in the Department of Agriculture. Strategic planning is very essential to increase the impact of our initiatives by ensuring every intervention is properly planned and aligned with regional and local priorities,” said Ms. Doris Joy Garcia, the IPLAN Component head and Chief of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED).

By empowering planners with the right tools and knowledge, the orientation is expected to contribute directly to the PRDP Scale-Up’s objectives of fostering more resilient and competitive agricultural and fishery sectors.

With what they have learned through the activity, participants now have a better understanding of how to integrate the Regional Perspective into their planning efforts.