October 9, 2015

Over the past months since its implementation, the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) has been hiring consultants to fast track the Value Chain Analysis (VCA) preparation of target provinces’ priority commodities. But recently, the Project Support Office (PSO) South Luzon I-PLAN team thought of a better strategy. Why not capacitate and engage the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Units (PPMIUs) in VCA preparation?

Using the learning by doing approach, Planning Specialist Rey B. Lara and the late Project Support Office (PSO) I-PLAN Component Head Ma. Jayd-da N. Mayoralgo devised a three-module training plan to develop the PPMIUs and Regional Project Coordination Office’s (RPCO) skills in VCA preparation. For four months, Mayoralgo and Lara facilitated VCA preparation workshops with the goal of enabling them to prepare and submit a VCA report that would merit No Objection Letter (NOL).

For Bicol, the modular VCA trainings produced eight VCA reports of the region’s second priority commodities, two of which were already endorsed by the Provincial Development Council (PDC) and are awaiting NOL. These include VCAs for sweet potato of Albay, seaweeds of Sorsogon, cassava and whole nut of Camarines Sur, live goat and coconut shell charcoal of Masbate, mangrove crab of Catanduanes, and queen pineapple juice of Camarines Norte.

The said VCA reports were presented to the panel of evaluators composed of RPCO V Deputy Project Director and Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension Dr. Elena B. De Los Santos, Planning Specialist Mary Ann R. Cuya, Lara, and I-SUPPORT Project Development Associate Edgardo B. Dela Torre during the Coaching/Mentoring on the Finalization of VCA for the Six Provinces held at Macagang Hotel and Resort in Nabua, Camarines Sur on October 6-10, 2015.

“The PPMIUs were able to produce tangible outputs—quality VCA reports that are reflective on the needs of the industry,” Lara said.

He added that although there are some data gaps and refinements that need to be made for the VCA to conform to the standard format, the PPMIUs were able to deliver comprehensive outputs based on consultations.

The coaching/mentoring on VCA finalization is designed to enhance the format and substance of the VCAs in preparation for the Joint Technical Review of the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), PSO, and RPCO scheduled on November 2-6, 2015 for possible NOL issuance. It was attended by the RPCO V I-PLAN team and their PPMIU counterparts from the six provinces of Bicol.

Grace Graciana Tagnipez of PPMIU-Masbate said that the VCA preparation was enriching and has broadened her knowledge necessary in Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) preparation.

“I have learned that the VCA is the story of the commodity while the PCIP tells the future of the commodity. Hopefully, the Province of Masbate would be able to submit and implement sub-project proposals particularly for live goat and coconut shell charcoal,” she added.

Lara said that the VCA preparation contributes to the PRDP objectives of institutionalizing the process to its LGU partners. He also recommends the mobilization of the PPMIUs in data-gathering and providing data support to the RPCO in preparing regional VCAs.

RPCO V will be working on the regional VCA for virgin coconut oil by the last quarter of 2015 while regional VCA preparations for cassava, seaweeds and sweet potato are being planned for next year.

Lara also lauded RPCO V’s initiatives of mentoring and coaching the PPMIUs as well as their constant follow-through to fast track the region’s VCA preparation.

“We look forward na ang mga ginagawa natin ay mamumunga ng sub-projects (We look forward that what we are doing will produce sub-projects),” he stated.

VCA is one of the implementing tools being used in PRDP implementation wherein only sub-projects anchored to the project areas’ VCAs with NOL are qualified for approval. It focuses on value-creation and rational distribution of benefits among the actors in the chain. VCA is also used to justify basis of PRDP interventions, promote collaboration, and generate commitment to support the industry.

Moreover, Lara recommends retooling the PPMIUs’ and RPCOs’ skill in VCA preparation and cascading the process to municipalities and agencies under the Department of Agriculture.

PRDP is a six-year project being implemented by the DA that aims to raise annual real farm incomes of household beneficiaries by 5%, increase the value of annual marketed output by 7%, and increase the number of farmers and fishers with improved access to DA’s services by 20% through an inclusive, market-oriented, and climate-resilient agri-fishery sector nationwide. The P2,483.95 billion-worth Project is funded from the World Bank loan of P20.50 billion, Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant of P287 million, National Government of P3.579 billion and Local Government Units (LGUs) equity of P3.118 billion. (Annielyn L. Baleza, I-SUPPORT InfoACE Unit, DA-RAFIS 5)

PRDP Deputy Project Director and RTD for Operations and Extension Dr. Elena B. Delos Santos lauds the PPMIUs’ efforts in VCA preparation. She underscores that PRDP is one of the keys in improving the quality of lives of farmers as through the VCA, commodity products’ potentials are being tapped.

Cherry B. Legazpi of PPMIU-Sorsogon presents the revised VCA for seaweeds to the panel of evaluators during the Coaching/Mentoring on the Finalization of VCA for the Province of Sorsogon and Albay held on October 6, 2015 at Macagang Hotel and Resort in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

PPMIU-Camarines Sur I-PLAN Component Head Ma. Teresa O. Asido presents the draft VCA for cassava to the panel of evaluators during the Coaching/Mentoring on the Finalization of VCA for the Province of Camarines Sur held on October 7, 2015 at Macagang Hotel and Resort in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

PPMIU-Albay I-PLAN Component Head Engr. Percival De Villa presents the draft VCA for sweet potato to the panel of evaluators during the Coaching/Mentoring on the Finalization of VCA for the Province of Sorsogon and Albay held on October 6, 2015 at Macagang Hotel and Resort in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Grace Graciana Tagnipez of PPMIU-Masbate presents the draft VCA for live goat to the panel of evaluators during the Coaching/Mentoring on the Finalization of VCA for the Province of Masbate held on October 8, 2015 at Macagang Hotel and Resort in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

PPMIU-Catanduanes I-PLAN Component Head Romeo Aquino presents the draft VCA for mangrove crab to the panel of evaluators during the Coaching/Mentoring on the Finalization of VCA for the Province of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte held on October 9, 2015 at Macagang Hotel and Resort in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Raphy B. Belardo of PPMIU-Camarines Norte presents the draft VCA for queen pineapple juice to the panel of evaluators during the Coaching/Mentoring on the Finalization of VCA for the Province of Catanduanes and Camarines Norte held on October 9, 2015 at Macagang Hotel and Resort in Nabua, Camarines Sur.