Another step towards mainstreaming the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) initiatives has successfully convened as the I-PLAN Component conducted a training on one of its major tools that can help identify suitable agricultural interventions for our farmers. These tools are the Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment (VSA) and the Expanded-Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment (eVSA).

This two-day training workshop was participated by the planning officers of the different regular programs and other special projects of the Department of Agriculture RFO 8.

“We are grateful that this kind of training was made possible. The tools introduced and how to do the mapping will help us in the Regional Agriculture Engineering Division (RAED) identify the appropriate equipment or machinery that can be of use. We are certain that these tools can be a big help in our field,” said Engr. Vilvic Ilo, Engineer II.

During the first day, various topics were discussed which included an introduction on VSA and eVSA, accessing the PRDP online Planner’s Portal, managing and processing EVSA via offline and online, and identification of socio-economic parameters. These were presented by the PRDP Geomapping and Governance Unit (GGU) through Engr. Arnel John Manalo and Mr. Ralph Mancio.

Participants were also given workshops on VSA map generation and eVSA map generation which they presented their outputs on the second day.

“Even before, I had no idea about VSA and eVSA. It was through this training, which gave us a grasp on how we can identify and assess the LGUs whether our projects and programs that will be implemented with them will be feasible and can give impact for our farmer beneficiaries,” Alyza Yumo, Planning Officer for Corn Program said.

Yumo shared how the tools help in their activities despite that there is no PCIP for corn yet.

“What I see is even before the planning and with the cluster profile the program has, we can par it and compare it side to side ensuring that what we will be providing them is what the LGU needs not because it is part of the targets of the agency provided with the tool and the program data,” she said.

This has been the second training/activity conducted in mainstreaming strategies that were developed through PRDP. The integration of these is believed to enhance the processes in the Department of Agriculture.