Unlike in their previous road construction projects where they do reports and project status updates manually, Robinson Sabas, Official Liaison Officer, of V.C. Varin Construction and Hardware Supply, said that the Philippine Rural Development Project’s (PRDP) modern approach is an advantage for contractors and will benefit the country’s construction industry.

Sabas, the contractor for the PRDP’s infrastructure development (I-BUILD) subproject Concreting of Sto. Domingo-Fabrica in San Vicente, Camarines Norte, particularly approved of the Project’s applied geotagging technology (AGT), an innovative tool being used by PRDP in which digital resources like photos, websites and text messages are associated with a physical location to accurately visualize a subproject. He was also impressed with the PRDP’s Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) for ensuring that all pending Right of Way (ROW) requirements and tree cutting permits are fully complied to guarantee smooth project implementation.

Robinson Sabas, Official Liaison Officer, of V.C. Varin Construction and Hardware Supply asked about the status of the Right of Way requirements in the subproject site and was impressed that the PRDP’s Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Unit handles the said aspect of project implementation. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

At the Pre-Construction Conference for the Concreting of Angas-Lidong Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Basud, Camarines Norte and Concreting of Sto. Domingo-Fabrica FMR in San Vicente, Camarines Norte held on February 8 in this province, Sabas and representatives of the contractors awarded with the projects were oriented about the PRDP mechanism in infrastructure development. The barangay officials in the two subprojects’ road influence area and the PRDP’s local government unit counterparts were also invited to attend the said activity wherein the Environmental Safeguards Mitigation Plan (ESMP), SES Requirements in Relation to Contract Management, and I-BUILD Technical Requirements and Guidelines were discussed. In addition, they were also educated about the contract and contract documents as well as PRDP’s disbursement and billing guidelines. The supervision and monitoring team and the contractors’ key personnel for the subprojects were also introduced to the project implementers and stakeholders. Moreover, an overview of the PRDP’s AGT was also discussed.

“Nakapagturo ang PRDP ng panibagong approach sa construction industry. Masyadong moderno ang  approach ng project at malaking tulong ito sa aming mga contractor (PRDP was able to teach a new approach in the construction industry. This is a modern approach that will benefit contractors like us),” he said.

Project stakeholders including the barangay officials within the road influence area were also invited to attend the Pre-Construction Conference for the Concreting of Angas-Lidong Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Basud, Camarines Norte and Concreting of Sto. Domingo-Fabrica FMR in San Vicente, Camarines Norte held on February 8, 2017 at the Provincial Capitol in Daet, Camarines Norte. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

The P97.30 million-worth Concreting of Sto. Domingo-Fabrica FMR and the P53.69 million-worth Concreting of Angas-Lidong FMR will have its groundbreaking ceremony on February 21, 2017. These subprojects are projected to benefit a total population of 10,859 residents within the area, particularly the coconut farmers in both municipalities.

Punong Barangay Godofredo Jerez Jr. of Brgy. Lidong, Basud, Camarines Norte believes that the FMR will effect change in his community.

“Mapapabilis ang paglabas ng produkto, maiiwasan ang mga aksidente at mabebenepisyuhan pati mga estudyante (It will hasten product hauling, reduce the risks of vehicular accidents and will also benefit the students),” he said.

Jerez also requested for a copy of the project’s Program of Works to assist the PRDP Management in monitoring the subproject implementation.

The two FMRs are the second batch of I-BUILD subprojects in Camarines Norte. As of January 31, 2017, the province has one ongoing I-BUILD subprojects, the 21.15-kilometer Concreting of Pinagwarasan to Lanot Farm-to-Market Road in Basud and Mercedes, Camarines Norte and five I-BUILD subprojects under procurement with a total amount of P264.93 million.

PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office Procurement Specialst Maria Rhoda Lavinia Mendoza discusses the contract and contract documents to the project contractors and other stakeholders present during the Pre-Construction Conference to ensure effective and efficient collaboration in the project implementation. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

“Salaminin natin yung experience natin sa Pinagwarasan(-Lanot FMR), yung unang I-BUILD subproject sa probinsya, yung magagandang experience natin sa Pinagwarasan ulitin natin sa Angas(-Lidong at Sto. Domingo-Fabrica) at yung mga hindi magandang experience bigyan natin ng solusyon (Let us reflect from our experience with the construction of the Pinagwarasan-Lanot FMR, the province’s first I-BUILD subproject. Let us replicate the best practices and find solutions to the challenges we encountered),” said Engr. Arnie Ilan, PRDP-Bicol I-BUILD Component Head.

PRDP is a six-year World Bank-assisted project being implemented by the Department of Agriculture. The Project’s I-BUILD component is committed both in establishing climate resilient rural infrastructure facilities and quality in the implementation of its construction work in project areas along the value chain. ### (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)