“Dati (bumibiyahe kami ng) mga tatlong oras… Sidton dili pa sementado an amon agihan, an amon dinadaanan papuntang bayan, nagababa kami nang Brgy. Don Pablo Dela Rosa gamit ang kalabaw, dalawang oras papuntang tabing-dagat. Ang kaibahan (ngayon,) medyo hindi na mahirap sa amin na magsasaka na mag-travel ng produkto namin dahil may bus na dito. Galing dito hanggang bayan. Mga dalawang oras, tapos ang pamasahe sa bawat tao, isang daan papunta doon. Okay sa amin na mangongoma dahil ‘yung produkto namin dito na namin binabagsak sa Brgy. Mariposa, karga na lang sa bus papuntang bayan. Hindi na kami masyadong hirap, dahil malapit-lapit na sa amin,” relates Daryl Chan, a coconut farmer from Brgy. Mariposa in Aroroy, Masbate. 

Improved traveling conditions, reduced travel time, and increased traffic count, as noted in spot interviews were among the initial findings of the Rapid Appraisal of Emerging Benefits (RAEB) conducted by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) on the PhP242.56 million-worth Concreting of San Agustin to Tigbao Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) in Aroroy, Masbate. 

The evaluation initiative, spearheaded by the DA-PRDP Project Support Office (PSO) South Luzon Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, in collaboration with its counterparts at the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) M&E, Economics, and Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES) units, Rural Infrastructure Development (I-BUILD) component and the Information, Advocacy, Communication and Education (InfoACE) unit was held from February 7 to 11, 2022.  

RAEB is an intermediate evaluation activity of DA-PRDP that aims to validate the extent by which the Project’s investments were translated to outcomes for its intended beneficiaries. It also identifies the challenges in the subproject’s operation and maintenance, assesses its sustainability, and helps determine sustainability measures as the Project advances. 

To gather pieces of evidence about the attainment of the projected benefits indicated in the feasibility study and assess the current and future sustainability efforts of the LGU and other stakeholders, the RAEB team conducted series of key informant interviews, focus group discussions, household surveys, and spot interviews to gather information from pre-identified LGU and barangay officials, farmers, traders, Project-Affected Persons (PAPs), and households along the five barangays traversing the road influence area namely: Brgy. San Agustin, Brgy. Don Pablo Dela Rosa, Brgy. Tigbao, Brgy. Mariposa and Brgy. Matalangtalang.  

According to PRDP PSO South Luzon M&E Specialist Arvin San Juan, other emerging benefits of the 15-kilometer FMR as observed by the RAEB team are improved marketing practices, reduced transport losses, and reduced output and input hauling cost. Moreover, the concrete FMR also resulted in socio-economic benefits like better access to government services, increased economic activities, and appraised value of land. 

The RAEB team presented the initial findings, other observations, and recommendations to LGU-Aroroy Municipal Agriculturist and concurrently the Municipal Project Management and Implementation Unit (MPMIU) Head Engineer Arvin Ostia during the exit meeting. 

“Malaking bagay na nalaman namin ‘yung aktuwal na pangangailangan ng project namin. Nakita po natin aktuwal na ‘yung operation and maintenance na plano ng PRDP na nakalagay sa Implementation Management Agreement ay kailangan na ipatupad upang ma-maintain ang safety ng daan doon sa ating mga biyaheros… Nalaman ko po na ‘yung project ng PRDP na phase 1 from San Agustin to Tigbao Farm-to-Market Road malaki na ang pagkakaiba. Nalaman po natin sa mga nainterview natin kahapon na napakalaking bagay at maraming bagay ang naitulong na sa kanila with regard sa kanilang pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan, hanap-buhay, at social activities. Na-inspire ako sa mga sagot ng mga tao, nakakataba ng puso na marinig ‘yung kanilang pasasalamat na nabago ang buhay nila at na-encourage sila na magtanim, magkaroon ng negosyo sa kanilang barangay dahil mayroon nang sasakyan at market ang kanilang produkto. Ang plano namin, pagandahin pa, kung meron nang kalsada, susunod na ang kuryente,” Ostia said. 

Engr. Ostia mentioned that the MPMIU-Aroroy will present the findings to the Sangguniang Bayan in March 2022 for possible sponsorship of ordinances to regulate the activities in the FMR and to seek funding for the subproject’s operation and maintenance in preparation for the construction of their proposed phase 2 FMR subproject. 

“Napakaganda ng sistema ng RAEB dahil parang ina-upgrade ‘yung idea namin lalung-lalo na ako bilang Municipal Agriculturist. ‘Yung lahat ng nalalaman ko dito sa RAEB, sa PRDP, puwede naming ma-i-share ‘yung idea namin sa ibang project namin…” he added. 

Mayor Arturo Virtucio agreed saying “Sa ibang project hindi namin naranasan ito. Sa PRDP, ito pala ‘yun. Pero maganda ito kasi sa aking parte na ang gusto ko ang transparent governance, gusto ko yan, dahil wala akong dapat pag-ilagan dahil natapos yung project ayon doon sa lahat ng guidelines na ibinigay sa amin. Magandang practice!” 

RAEB is being undertaken to complete DA-PRDP I-BUILD and I-REAP subprojects a year after its completion and with at least one cropping season for the priority commodity. Data gathered for this M&E activity covers both with FMR and without FMR time period.  (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V/PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit with reports from Arvin San Juan, PRDP PSO South Luzon M&E Unit)

DA-PRDP PSO South Luzon M&E Specialist Arvin San Juan presents the objectives and methodologies of the RAEB to LGU-Aroroy MPMIU Head and Municipal Agriculturist Engr. Arvin Ostia during the Courtesy Call with the Local Chief Executive.

Among the initial findings of the DA-PRDP’s RAEB is improved traveling condition.