August 8, 2014

The Department of Agriculture Regional Office conducted workshops on the finalization of I-BUILD sub-project documents and Business Planning and Packaging for the Provincial Program Management and Implementing Units (PPMIUs) of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Sorsogon simultaneously held at Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City on August 5-7, 2014. This is in order for them to secure the No Objection Letter (NOL) 1 from the National Program Coordination Office (NPCO)-Program Support Office (PSO) of the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) due on August 31, 2014.

I-BUILD Sub-Project Documents Finalization

PRDP Director for Luzon B Cluster Shandy M. Hubilla personally supervised the respective PPMIUs’ finalization of the I-BUILD sub-project documents including the feasibility study, detailed engineering design, program of works, and social and environmental safeguards. The I-BUILD sub-project documents that are due for endorsement by the Regional Program Coordination Office (RPCO)-5 and PSO-South Luzon to NPCO on August 15, 2014 were assessed and validated by Engr. Allan Tattiera, NPCO I-BUILD Consultant, Maria Rhoda Lavinia D. Mendoza (PSO Luzon B Procurement Officer), Engr. Lyn Collo (PSO Luzon B Rural Infrastructure Engineer), and Ms. Bathsheba Aparilla (Social Safeguards Specialist) for final revisions.

According to I-BUILD Component Head Engr. Arnie C. Ilan, P600 million was allotted for I-BUILD projects in Bicol this year. However, failure to secure the NOL 1 on August 31 by not having the said sub-project documents approved on-time by RPAB and NPCO-PSO would result to said fund being transferred to other regions with approved sub-project documents. He also underscored the value of the I-BUILD projects saying “Basta’t ang isang lugar malagyan ng access road, ang development nyan kasunod. Ang kanilang business enterprises like coco sugar, livestock, fishery magbe-benefit. Accessible lahat.” He added that the I-BUILD projects in the region will not only address the high cost of transportation and spoilage due to poor road condition but also social issues like peace and order.

Among the sub-project documents that were reviewed and finalized during the I-BUILD workshop are the proposed farm-to-market road (FMR) projects in the municipalities of Sipocot, Libmanan and Pasacao. Mr. Felipe Vargas, PPMIU coordinator for Camarines Sur, said that the sub-project documents for the proposed 19.3-kilometer FMR from Brgy. Manangle to Brgy. Caima in Sipocot, 6.5-kilometer FMR from Brgy. San Isidro to Brgy. Pag-Uring, and 8-kilometer FMR from Brgy. Coco to Brgy. Bagong-Silang are almost complete. With the technical competency and persistence of his staff as well as the support of the provincial government, Vargas is confident that the PPMIU-Cam Sur can deliver the final sub-project documents on or before the deadline. He also acknowledged the full support of the DA regional office in the success of their PRDP undertaking.

Also assessed during the workshop was the Province of Albay’s sub-project documents for the proposed rehabilitation and improvement of the 15.03-kilometer Pistola-Tablon Road with three units bridge in the Municipality of Oas. Provincial Planning Development Coordinator Officer-In-Charge Millie Bueta stressed the value of the said project in alleviating the poverty incidence in the said municipality due to inaccessibility. “Without the proposed FMR and bridge, it takes more or less two hours to reach those barangays,” she said. She added that crossing the Ramay River is a faster option for the locals however, it is risky especially during the rainy season. Bueta expressed appreciation of the workshops where they could brainstorm and seek face-to-face assistance from the PSO experts about the gray areas of I-BUILD document preparation.

PPMIUs Proceed to Business Planning and Packaging

“We believe there is a market, that is why we are pursuing this.” This is Hubilla’s encouragement to the members of the PPMIUs’ who participated in the Business Planning Finalization and Packaging Workshop for PSO Luzon B LGUs. He noted that compared to I-BUILD sub-project documents, business planning for I-REAP is more challenging as it require more analysis and research. Nevertheless, he urged them to accomplish their business plans on or before August 31 to optimize utilization of the P60 million I-REAP budget allotted for Bicol.

One of the business plans presented during the workshop was the Province of Camarines Sur’s proposed enterprise for coconut sap sugar processing with the CamSur Multipurpose Cooperative as proposed proponent group (PG). On the other hand, with the goal of becoming more competitive and to add more value to the pili nuts, the Province of Sorsogon, selected pili trading as proposed enterprise with the Pili Processors Association of Sorsogon Inc. as PG. The Province of Camarines Norte, on the other hand, chose coco geonet production and establishment of coco peat processing industry with the Talobatib Self Initiative Development Association (TASIDA), Samahang Organic Fair Trade Coconut Farmers Association (SOFACOFA) and Basud Coconut and Pineapple Cooperative (BACOPICO) as PGs.

To assist the PPMIU members in finalizing their business plan, PSO Luzon B Business Development Officer Manolo Luis Herrera gave feedback and recommendations on the draft business plans. He also instructed the participants to come up with action plans based from the inputs that he provided.

“Trying to uplift the livelihood of our farmers is not an easy task especially if its market-oriented. That’s the challenging part na hindi lang tayo magnegosyo but make sure that it is relevant to the market,” he said. He commended the Bicol PPMIU members’ teachableness and reminded them to make their business plans viable, sustainable and relevant to the market. Furthermore, he said that execution is more important. “You may have the most perfect plan but what will drive this is the execution by committed people who will work the plan,” he added.

Hubilla remarked that Bicol is ahead compared to other regions in terms of PRDP requirement preparation but the PPMIUs have to keep working on it until they beat the deadline. He currently focuses on strengthening the Regional Program Coordination Office (RPCO) to do the review.

I-BUILD and I-REAP are two components of the P27.535-billion Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP), a six-year program, authored by DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala aimed at establishing inclusive and market-oriented agri-fishery sector by adopting commodity value chain analysis to direct rural investments nationwide. (Annielyn L. Baleza, I-SUPPORT InfoACE Unit, DA-RAFID 5)