CLUSTER MEETING CONCLUDES 9TH WB IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT MISSION
“The I-REAP subprojects we have visited here are impressive,” World Bank (WB) Task Team Leader Eli Weiss said in his message during the Plenary Session on November 21, 2019, at Zen Hotel, Santiago City.
Together with the members of the Task Team, the Project Support Office (PSO) held a cluster-wide meeting for the feedbacking and breakout sessions to conclude the 9th WB Implementation Support Mission.
“The site visits and consultations transformed the curtain of anticipation into a glimmer of hope as we have proven that the World Bank-funded Philippine Rural Development Project rolled out five years ago has built much-needed farm to market roads and has established enterprises along the value chain,” Regional Deputy Project Director Rose Mary G. Aquino said in her opening message.
The Task Team visited Oscariz- Nagbacalan FMR, Tilapia Production and Marketing Enterprise in Ramon, Isabela and Peanut Production and Marketing Enterprise in Santiago City.
“The enterprises are very significant. With the additional financing, more I-REAP subprojects should be established,” Dir. Shandy Hubilla said.
Likewise, Asec. Andrew Villacorta said these subprojects could help smallholding farmers increase their income.
Meanwhile, DPD Elma Mananes announced during the presentation of cluster updates that RPCO 2 topped other regions in disbursement.
“With 86% obligation vs. disbursement, RPCO 2 emerged number one, on top of other regions,” Mananes said.
Before the Plenary Session, the WB Team Members gave their observations regarding the subprojects visited with the National Project Coordination Office headed by Asec Andrew Villacorta and National Deputy Director Shandy Hubilla, Project Support Office (PSO) led by Director Crispulo Bautista and Deputy Director Elma Mananes, Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO 2) with Regional Technical Director Rose Mary Aquino, Isabela PPMIU, Santiago CPMIU and Ramon MPMIU.
A Breakout Session was conducted in the afternoon where the different components and units met their respective World Bank Team member-counterparts.
The Cluster Meeting was attended by representatives from RPCO 1, RPCO 3, RPCO 2 and CAR. (Dr. Ferdinand N. Cortez, RPCO2 InfoACE)
