The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) Bicol conducted the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Reorientation for the Barangay Implementing Team (BIT) and other stakeholders of the Concreting of San Agustin to Tigbao Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Aroroy, Masbate from March 22 to 24, 2022.

The said activity was among the recommendations cited by the DA-PRDP team, after the Rapid Appraisal of Emerging Benefits (RAEB) conducted on the completed I-BUILD subproject from February 7 to 11, 2022.

According to DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Rhodelia Remot, the activity was a refresher course to reorient the BIT, People’s Organizations (PO), and other stakeholders within the subproject’s road influence area about their responsibilities.

“Porke’t natapos na po ang subproject, tapos na po tayo? Hindi po. Kasi nung nag-Citizens Monitoring Training (CMT) po tayo, nung nag-accept po kayo during the turnover, sinabi po doon ng aming Director na hindi po doon nagtatapos ang project, babalikan po natin ang Implementation Management Agreement (IMA). Nakalahad po doon na sa loob ng sampung taon ay ia-audit po kayo ng Department of Agriculture para makita kung ang mga barangay po doon ay mini-maintain ang kalsada,” Remot said.

Remot also added that the activity was aimed to address the RAEB findings and equip the participants for the semi-annual OMAS. Likewise, participants were provided with knowledge, skills, and right attitude on O&M for the FMR subproject.

Furthermore, the activity also discussed the importance of O&M for FMRs, including its relevance in community and national development, as well as the legal bases, roles, and responsibilities of major stakeholders, Local Government Units (LGUs), and community organizations’ linkages and attributes of the people in charge of FMR management after turnover. Road maintenance, deterioration, and practices for effective and efficient O&M were also shared.

After the on-site visit, several barangay officials expressed their commitment to ensure the O&M of the DA-PRDP-funded subproject.

The DA-PRDP advocates O&M to promote consistent, proper and timely maintenance of its I-BUILD subprojects, which connect agricultural producers and consumers. Based on the Project’s guidelines, as stipulated in the O&M Plan and IMA, the LGU is responsible for the O&M of the completed subproject for at least 10 years. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit with reports from Rhodelia Remot, PRDP RPCO V M&E Unit)

Municipal Agriculturist and concurrently MPMIU Head Engr. Arvin Ostia facilitates the conduct of the O&M audit during the field visit at the 15-kilometer I-BUILD subproject Concreting of San Agustin to Tigbao Farm-to-Market Road in Aroroy, Masbate on March 24, 2022.

Participants share their experiences, insights and learnings as well as their commitment to support O&M activities after the on-site O&M audit demonstration.

PRDP-Bicol Rural Infrastructure Engineer (RIE) Eliseo Buella Jr. discusses the importance of O&M for FMR.

PRDP-Bicol Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Rhodelia Remot provides an overview of the activity.