“Ang bola ay nasa LGU [The Local Government Unit (LGU) has the control]. I hope that’s clear,” reminded PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO) Director Shandy Hubilla to LGU representatives.

During the first cluster-wide assessment of ongoing I-BUILD sub-project implementation held on May 10–13 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Director Hubilla emphasized that PRDP sub-projects are “designed for the implementation of the LGUs.” He further clarified that unlike the LGU’s fund counterpart that is 10% of the total project cost, the LGU’s contribution to the project implementation should be 100% in terms of implementation.

Findings from the recent World Bank supervision mission highlighting the factors that affect the implementation of I-BUILD or infrastructure development sub-projects such as compliance to Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) requirements and lack of manpower were presented.

According to Director Hubilla, the PSO will now be stricter in monitoring the proper implementation of the approved sub-projects. He told the LGUs, “You do the implementation; we do the monitoring.”

Director Hubilla then introduced the Back-to-Office Report (BOTR), which according to him “is an efficient document or tool that will be used by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit.” The duly signed BOTR and the conduct of exit conference are now required from the LGUs and staff of the Regional Project Coordination Office so that highlights of field activities will be properly documented and discussed.

Engr. Allan Tatierra, PSO I-BUILD Component Head, mentioned that technical report findings and agreements have to be discussed during exit conferences and have it signed by the parties present during the activity so that all stakeholders will be properly informed.

“PRDP’s job is to monitor, supervise and disburse. Beyond that should be the LGU’s concern,” emphasized Director Hubilla. He compared the LGUs to teenagers who are required to take a master’s degree. “Really, the expectation is high,” he explained.

The first cluster-wide assessment for ongoing I-BUILD sub-projects intended to discuss progress reports and World Bank findings during the recent mission, and conduct technical sessions and mentoring about the implementation of sub-projects particularly on quality issues.

The LGUs of Mulanay, Guinayangan, Candelaria, Lucena, Luisiana, Oriental Mindoro, Puerto Princesa City, Albay, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur presented the status reports of their sub-projects with emphasis on project milestones, progress documentation through geotagging, Infrastructure Quality Monitoring and Durability System (IQMDS) documentation and other issues they have encountered.

The Challenge in Project Monitoring and Implementation

“What is holding you from not implementing what we have learned from the contract management and (Material Testing and Quality Control (MTQC)?” asked Engr. Ericson Mammag, NPCO I-BUILD Alternate Component Head, to the representatives of the LGUs in South Luzon.

The participants identified problems such as contractors’ lack of experience in implementing projects as strict as PRDP, the apparent complicated processes, and the lack of manpower. The participants also suggested that contractors be invited to join the trainings with LGUs, so that the contractors will better appreciate and understand the PRDP processes and requirements. However, the I-BUILD representatives from the NPCO and PSO commented that it should be the LGUs’ responsibility to engage the contractors in the correct PRDP processes.

Engr. Ericson Mammag, NPCO I-BUILD Alternate Component Head discusses about the proper implementation of farm-to-market roads and citizen’s monitoring tool. (Photo by Lorenzo B. Villacorte, Jr., DA-PRDP PSO South Luzon M&E Unit)

Engr. Mammag introduced the citizen’s monitoring tool and repeatedly encouraged the LGUs to train their community monitoring teams about the proper sub-project implementation. He also required the LGUs to be aware of the latest guidelines and annexes to the I-BUILD operations manual.

To test the LGUs’ awareness of the checklists in PRDP sub-project implementation and monitoring, Engr. Mammag let the participants spot the noncompliance and good practice from the sample photos he presented.

Audiovisual presentations on the correct processes to be followed for the construction of farm-to-market roads intended for contractors, LGU representatives and citizen monitors will be developed and produced by PRDP’s InfoACE Unit.

“Our documentation is also a way for us to protect ourselves,” stated Maria Iris Millendez, SES Specialist of the South Luzon PSO. She emphasized that grievance reports do not affect the sub-project’s quality and the LGUs should not take the said reports in a negative way. She said, “We are here to check and monitor if the PRDP standard procedures are followed.”

“Lahat tayo dapat gawin natin ang ating mga part sa project. Isipin natin na ang ating mga ginagawa ay para sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda (Each of us should do our part in the project. Let us think that what we are doing are for our farmers and fisher folks),” said CALABARZON Regional Technical Director Teodora Mamades.

Engr. Tatierra mentioned that at this early stage of sub-project implementation, assessment and coordination meetings help to surface emerging issues and concerns among LGUs that affect their sub-project implementation. He added that the NPCO, PSO and RPCO will ensure that technical assistance will be provided to suit the LGUs’ needs. “We expect that there will be improvement in terms of the LGUs’’ performance and the quality of sub-projects, because in the end, the LGUs will be the ones who will benefit most,” said Engr. Tatierra.

Mayet De Guzman, member of the SES Technical Working Group of Oriental Mindoro shared her hope that trainings and workshops on SES concerns will also be conducted to clarify issues and processes about right of way and organization of grievance and redress mechanism teams.

“Sana ma-address yung mga prinesent na issues dito at sana mapabilis yung mga proseso (Hopefully, the issues presented here will be addressed and the processes will be facilitated faster),” told Engr. Irene Dalonos of Puerto Princesa City. She also said that she learned from the presentations of the representatives from the NPCO, PSO, and the other LGUs. Engr. Dalonos added that their group will apply the best practices shared during the assessment and coordination meeting.  ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-PRDP PSO South Luzon InfoACE Unit)