The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) Bicol conducted a pilot test of the mobile Operation and Maintenance Audit System (OMAS) and Enterprise Assessment Tool (EAT) for two (2) completed I-BUILD and four (4) I-REAP subprojects in the province of Catanduanes from September 27 – 30, 2021.

The OMAS and EAT team, composed of DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol I-BUILD Rural Infrastructure Engineer Eliseo Buella Jr., Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Rhodelia Remot, and I-REAP Project Development Associate (PDA) Angelica Peñano, conducted the mobile OMAS and EAT using KoBoCollect, a free open-source tool for mobile data collection and management, to the Concreting of Junction Sabangan-Datag East Farm to Market Road (FMR) in Caramoran.

DA-PRDP National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) Alternate GGU Head Joseph Pacon joined the team to provide technical assistance and gather feedback about the mobile app rollout. The team also monitored and assessed the status of the Abaca Processing and Trading Enterprise and the Construction of Warehouse Building in Bato and Viga; the Mangrove Crab Production and Marketing Enterprise including the Construction of Trading Center and Office in Panganiban; the Commercial Palay Production in Gigmoto; and the Broiler Production and Marketing in Pandan.

According to Pacon, the mobile OMAS was launched by the DA-PRDP in July 2021 after the Training on Geo-Enabling Initiatives for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) of the World Bank Group. Along with the mobile EAT, PRDP Geo Camera, and drone technology, the information and communications technology (ICT) tools were designed to facilitate remote supervision, monitoring and evaluation, beneficiary engagement, safeguards and portfolio mapping.

Pacon noted that using the mobile or browser-based apps in auditing and monitoring completed I-BUILD and I-REAP subprojects will enhance the Project’s efficiency in data collection and submission as well as data processing.

“Basically, it will enhance the efficiency of data transmission and promote real-time submission and analytics of information that we have collected on the ground,” Pacon said.

Mobile app users may collect data and information at the subproject sites using their available ICT equipment in either offline or online environments.

Engineer Buella expressed his appreciation of the mobile OMAS app for being user-friendly.

“Para sa akin, na-appreciate ko ang mobile OMAS, kasi ‘yung computation ng rating niya, makikita mo na agad, kumbaga, hindi mo na kailangan manually gawin ‘yung pag-compute ng rating ng isang project dahil merong built-in rating computation ang app na ito,” Engineer Buela said.

Likewise, Remot related her experience in shifting from paper-based to mobile OMAS.

“Na-inspire ako bumili ng bagong cellphone para sa activity na ito. Tapos pinag-aralan ko rin ‘yung magiging process at ilang series ng retooling din ang ginawa ng NPCO at PSO. So ngayon, malaking tulong at the same time, ‘yung importansya ng data on the ground, ‘yung pag-rate ng mga kasamahan ko sa team nakikita na agad-agad,” Remot said. 

PPMIU Head Engineer Elsie Reyes also praised the tools as it ensures the quality of projects that will serve for a longer period of time.

The Abaca Processing and Trading Enterprise and Commercial Palay Production received an Excellent and Good rating, respectively. The Concreting of Junction Sabangan-Datag East FMR and Construction of Warehouse Building in Bato and Viga, Catanduanes were rated Good.

Results of OMAS and EAT conducted to the Mangrove Crab Production and Marketing Enterprise and Broiler Production and Marketing show that they need improvement. The DA-PRDP RPCO Bicol team discussed their OMAS and EAT findings and observations, as well as recommendations to PPMIU Catanduanes during the exit meeting held in Virac, Catanduanes on September 30, 2021 and with the concerned proponent groups after each activity.

The DA-PRDP is currently conducting the pilot testing of the mobile app for OMAS and EAT. The Project is planning to roll out the innovation across the country in 2021.  (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

The PRDP-Bicol team headed by M&E Officer Rhodelia Remot and PRDP NPCO Alternate GGU Head Joseph Pacon paid a courtesy call to Catanduanes Governor Joseph Cua before conducting the mobile OMAS and EA to completed I-BUILD and I-REAP subprojects in the province.

The PRDP-Bicol I-BUILD, M&E and I-REAP conduct the pilot run of the mobile OMAS and EA using the KoBoCollect app.

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Rhodelia Remot and I-REAP Project Development Associate (PDA) Angelica Peñano conduct the mobile Enterprise Assessment to the Commercial Palay Production being operated by the Gigmoto Community Based Seed Bank Association in Gigmoto and the Broiler Production and Marketing being operated by the Tabugoc Farmers and Fisherfolks Association in Pandan, Catanduanes.