By Elvy T. Estacio, RPCO-CAR Writer

As part of the mainstreaming activities of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP), technical personnel from the DA Regional Field Offices (RFOs) of Regions 1, 2, 3, and CAR were trained on the Operations and Maintenance Audit System (OMAS) from June 25 to 28 in Baguio City.

OMAS is one of the tools developed under the PRDP to monitor how local government units (LGUs) and residents maintain the quality and condition of completed subprojects, ensuring continued progress for farmer and resident beneficiaries.

During the training, Renato P. Manantan, Senior Institutional Development Specialist at the PRDP National Project Coordination Office (NPCO), emphasized the importance of integrating PRDP tools like OMAS into the operations of the DA to enhance service delivery.

Engr. Frederick Agasen, NPCO Roads and Bridges Specialist, detailed the procedures and forms used in conducting O&M audits. He further discussed the composition of the Regional Operations and Maintenance Team (ROMAT) that are in charge of conducting OMAS.

Participants voiced their concerns and provided recommendations for improving OMAS implementation, while also sharing their experiences in conducting O&M audits.

In line with directives from the DA and recommendations from the World Bank, the DA-PRDP continues to engage with various RFOs, LGUs, and other stakeholders to mainstream the tools and best practices of the project.

Technical personnel from the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) and Bureau of Agricultural & Fisheries Engineering (BAFE) also attended the training.###