“Sa PRDP, magkatuwang po tayo sa pagpapatupad ng proyekto. Mula sa start ng construction hanggang sa operation and maintenance, kasama po kayo.”

This was underscored by Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) Bicol Monitoring and Evaluation Unit Officer Rhodelia Remot during the back-to-back Citizens Monitoring trainings conducted by the Project from March 15 to 16, 2022 in Virac, Catanduanes.

The said trainings were focused for the local officials of the three (3) barangays (Ogbong, Ananong, and Mabini) along the road influence area of the 5.50-kilometer Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) at the Junction Ogbong to Mabini, which is currently being constructed under the DA-PRDP. 

The back-to-back activities, namely, the Citizens Monitoring Tool (CMT), Barangay Implementing Team (BIT), Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), and the Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance Group (IOMG), were aimed to capacitate the members of the BIT/CMT and the project stakeholders on their participation in citizens’ monitoring using the DA-PRDP’s tools. Included in the discussion are the monitoring of guide questions, GRM and geotagging. Participants were also oriented on their composition and functions, assisted on the development of action plans, and the drafting of BIT structure and barangay resolution for the endorsement and sustainability of the said tool and committee.  

During the training, DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol Rural Infrastructure Engineer (RIE) Jimbo Bjorn Salceda emphasized the community’s role in subproject monitoring, to guarantee that the project will be implemented on time, in good quality, and at the least cost. He also encouraged the participants to look into the quality assurance elements where the CMT is anchored, namely, Management Support System, Contract Review Processes, Inspection and Testing Procedures, Document Control Procedures, and Operation and Maintenance Procedures. To engage the citizens in project monitoring, monitoring guide questions based on the five quality assurance elements were formulated. 

Meanwhile, SES Associate Officer Cherry Soribello highlighted the elements of the Safeguards System namely Compliance, Risk Management, and Quality Enhancement. She also discussed some environmental and social issues of construction that the community must check during project monitoring to prevent adverse social and environmental impact, health and safety risks, and non-sustainable development. 

After the site inspection at the FMR, the participants were also briefed about their respective roles and responsibilities as major stakeholders/owners of the I-BUILD subproject through a lecture on the formulation of BIT and IOMG by DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol RIE Eliseo Buella Jr. 

Local barangay officials, including the project contractor, expressed their support to the DA-PRDP’s advocacy of shared responsibility in project monitoring, ensuring proper project implementation.

Likewise, the project contractor said that the activity increased their knowledge about the project as well as their boundaries and responsibilities during project implementation.  

The DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol team will conduct a follow-up activity on April 15, 2022 to seek updates about the agreed draft BIT structure and barangay resolution formally endorsing the use of the CMT and activation of its Implementation Committee, Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance Committee, and Grievance Committee.  (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE)

PRDP-Bicol Rural Infrastructure Engineer Jimbo Bjorn Salceda orients the participants about the technical documents that they are authorized to look into as part of citizens monitong.

PRDP-Bicol Rural Infrastructure Engineer Eliseo Buella Jr. orients the participants about their roles and functions as part of the Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance Group (IOMG).