If possible, the resolution of grievances must not reach the regional or central offices.

Rather, “let us apply what we have learned from this week’s activities and resolve arising issues within our own barangays,” urged Tanudan Vice Mayor David Calsiyao.

Part of the implementation support component of the Philippine Rural Development Project’s Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) Unit is the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) that intends to seek feedback from beneficiaries and resolve complaints on project activities and performance.

Specifically, it will ensure that the beneficiaries are aware of their right to access and shall have access to the mechanism free of administrative and legal charges; that these rights are protected from poor project performance; and concerns arising from the project performance in all phases are addressed effectively.

With this, the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) conducted a two-day training on setting up GRM for Kalinga. It was participated by officials from the municipalities and barangays covered by the ongoing FMR subprojects in the province.

NPCO Social and Safeguards Specialist Maria Veronica Hernando said that this activity is for them to be knowledgeable on their roles specifically in the inspection and monitoring of subprojects.

During the training, the participants underwent three sets of workshop activities which pertained to the importance of GRM in their perspective, how they perceive the hierarchy of the GRM resolution process should be, and a simulation on how to handle complaints.

As such, one of the important points noted during the critiquing of workshop outputs includes the principle of accessibility and transparency wherein a complainant may seek assistance from any level (NPCO/PSO/RPCO/PPMIU), provided that the complaint should be first validated by the RPCO. If unresolved, the NPCO, PSO and RPCO should conduct a revalidation.

“All queries, feedbacks, complaints may be directed at any level by means of call, text messaging, e-mail, drop box, and/or personal appearance. However, if a complaint was directed to the NPCO, it will be endorsed to the RPCO for validation,” said Hernando.

In addition, Michael Francis Falconi, NPCO Environmental Safeguards Officer stressed that all complaints and agreements shall be properly documented for safe keeping especially for cases of repeated complaints.

Among other topics discussed were the updates on the implementation of I-BUILD and I-REAP subprojects in Kalinga, design and principles of GRM, grievance resolution process, roles and responsibilities of PRDP grievance point person, GRM requirements for LGU, PRDP online GRM system, and a brief overview on PRDP’s citizens monitoring tool. (Elvy S. Taquio, RPCO-CAR InfoACE)