The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) led by the National Economic Development Authority – CALABARZON (NEDA 4A) commended the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination (RPCO) CALABARZON and the local government of Sampaloc, Quezon for the prompt, efficient, and effective implementation of the Mamala-Taquico-Caldong Farm-to-Market Road (FMR).

The RPMC is the monitoring arm of the Regional Development Council responsible for inspecting, monitoring, and evaluating regional programs and projects of the government. 

The Mamala-Taquico-Caldong FMR was implemented by the PRDP 4A and the Sampaloc LGU to improve the local virgin coconut oil industry and residents’ access to essential services and economic opportunities. It has a project cost of PhP159.41 million, catering to 94 households in Brgy. Mamala, Taquico, and Caldong.

The 10.4-kilometer road during the RPMC inspection was functional, with farmers and residents using tricycles, jeepneys, horses, and private vehicles to and from their farms, the town proper, and their homes, well-maintained with clean shoulders, and with visible safety warnings in sloped areas. The RPMC also observed that the farmlands and agricultural projects in the area along the road are actively operating, one of which is the coconut hybridization project of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Among the good practices identified during the inspection were the close coordination of the LGU, Contractor, and the PRDP 4A, the conduct of regular monitoring and quality tests on the works of the road, the use of geotagging technology to document the progress of the project, proactive Municipal Project Management and Implementing Unit, timely compliance of requirements and billing documents with the DA-PRDP, and sustainability efforts such as the allocation of funds for the operations and maintenance of the FMR, ordinances enjoining residents to actively participate in maintaining the FMR, and the mainstreaming of PRDP tools in the LGU’s other projects such as the development of Plan of Works, Detailed Engineering Design, Social and Environmental Safeguards, and Geomapping and Governance documents.

RPMC Secretary Valter Morada and Regional Development Council Private Sector Representative Engr. Ladislao Andal expressed their admiration for the PRDP 4A and the Sampaloc LGU as the benefits brought by the FMR are seen to be aligning with the government’s resolve to strengthen the agriculture and fisheries sector and food security in the country and to improve the quality of life of Filipinos.

“The implementation of this project must be emulated by other local government units, especially since Sampaloc, Quezon is a fifth-class municipality. We hope to see more projects with this kind of implementation that is efficient, effective, and consistently stays true to its purpose,” RPMC Secretary Morada shared. 

Members of the Sampaloc LGU explained to the RPMC 4A the multitude of benefits being enjoyed by the municipality from the FMR. Apart from the agriculture sector, regular citizens inside and outside of Sampaloc are seen to be benefiting from the
conveniences and opportunities brought by the road.

Sampaloc Municipal Engineer Engr. Lovelyn Villanera explains to RPMC 4A Secretary Valter Morada explains how the LGU and the beneficiary communities of the FMR are collaborating in maintaining the cleanliness, functionality, and integrity of the road.

The teams also watched a short video summarizing the results of the PRDP 4A rapid appraisal of emerging benefits on the FMR. Several farmer-beneficiaries interviewed in the video related how the road improved their livelihoods and way of life.

After the site inspection, the PRDP 4A, Sampaloc LGU, and the RPMC teams discussed the good practices in the FMR subproject implementation that led to its success.

RPMC Regional Development Council Private Sector Representative Engr. Ladislao Andal expressed his approval of the FMR implementation as the impact it is leaving to the municipality aligns with the government’s resolve to combat poverty by strengthening food security, improving the quality of life of the people, and increasing access to opportunities.

The PRDP 4A Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, led by Ms. Crystal Jade Padonan discussed in detail how the PRDP 4A and the Sampaloc LGU collaborated in the subproject implementation. They also highlighted the PRDP tools adopted by the LGU to implement their other infrastructure projects.