Another innovation the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) takes pride in is the involvement of the academe in the monitoring of implementation of its projects or more known as the Citizens Monitoring Tool.

Just recently, a signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was held, signaling the start of Southern Leyte State University’s (SLSU) full participation in monitoring PRDP subprojects being implemented in the province. Present during the MOU signing were SLSU President Prose Ivy G. Yepes; DA-8 OIC-Regional Executive Directoro U-Nichols A. Manalo, and Southern Leyte Govenor Damian Mercado. 

“We take it as an opportunity for our students to learn new things. Aside from letting them undergo formal training about the PRDP’s monitoring process, their specific roles and, in particular, the application of the project’s science-based monitoring and transparency tools, they will also be exposed to on-field experiences.  This will hopefully instill in them the value of quality work,” said Yepes.

She pointed out that this would be part of SLSU’s exercise of social responsibility. It will be one of the major activities that will be placed under the university’s Extension Program and will be integrated in the students’ on -the -job training..

Southern Leyte is a recipient of various enterprise and infrastructure subprojects funded under the PRDP.

“The road subproject in Lilo-an entitled Rehabilitation/Improvement of Brgy. San Roque – Brgy. Bahay FMR subproject with a total length of 19.40 kilometers costing P232 million is by far, the biggest PRDP infrastructure subproject in the country,” said Mr. Franco Villaruel, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit Head of PRDP Project Support Office – Visayas Cluster.

SLSU faculty and students will partner with barangay residents in areas within the province where there are ongoing subprojects being implemented to comprise the so-called citizens monitoring team. This team is tasked to monitor compliance with the prescribed infrastructure subproject design or specifications, quality standards and timeline, among others.

Mr. Villaruel said that the tightened monitoring process under the PRDP is aimed at ensuring quality and timely completion of subprojects. There would be training for those who will be identified as members of the monitoring team.  It will focus on the use of the citizens monitoring tool developed under PRDP. They will also be taught about geo-tagging. (Rodel G. Macapanas, Writer, RPCO 8)