In 1986, Engr. Pacito “Chito” U. Tapire started his career as a laboratory aide for the Escalante-Vallehermoso road construction project in Negros Occidental. His main task was to test and inspect road construction materials. Thirty years after, Tapire, now a Municipal Engineer in San Antonio, Quezon shared that whenever he crosses the Escalante, Daan Lungsod, and Calampisauan bridges, he feels proud as the bridges are still in existence and functional.

“At tuwing dadaan po ako sa tatlong tulay na yun, sinasabi ko sa aking mga anak, bahagi ako ng proyektong ito. Can you just imagine for 30 years, the bridge is still there, walang defect halos?” he said.

Tapire, furthered that the said bridges testify that inspite of the evolving technology, quality remains unchanged.

The Philippine Rural Development Project’s Infrastructure Development (I-BUILD) component  commits to develop similar, if not better rural infrastructure and facilities, branded with quality, durability and climate-resiliency. To achieve this, the PRDP I-BUILD conducted a training on Infrastructure Quality Monitoring and Durability System (IQMDS) on October 17-21, 2016 in Legazpi City, Albay.

The participants conducted an actual field work at the Rehabilitation/Improvement of Pistola-Tablon Road with 3 Units Bridges in Oas, Albay to observe, gather geotagged photos of findings, and provide recommendations. National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) I-BUILD Alternate Component Head Ericson Mammag facilitated the integration of findings and recommendations vis-à-vis IQMDS requirements.

IQMDS is a system that PRDP adheres to. It encompasses the minimum key Quality Assurance Elements as well as quality control and monitoring processes to guarantee the durability of infrastructure sub-projects.

NPCO I-BUILD Alternate Component Head Ericson Mammag provides an overview of the Infrastructure Quality Monitoring and Durability System (IQMDS) during the Training on Infrastructure Quality Monitoring and Durability System (IQMDS) held on October 17-21, 2016 in Legazpi City, Albay.

According to Mammag, IQMDS is composed of five elements: 1. In-place management support system,  2. In-place contract review processes and procedures, 3. In-place inspection and testing processes and procedures, 4. In-place document control processes and procedures, and 5. In-place operation and maintenance system.

“Quality can not be inspected in a structure. It has to be built into it. Inspection confirms whether a structure meets the established criteria, but do not add quality by itself,” he said.

He added that based from the first and second World Bank missions, generally, I-BUILD was rated “satisfactory.” However, capability-building is necessary not only for the local government units but also for contractors to address challenges using some approaches to implement the IQMDS manual. Moreover, he reiterated the value of close supervision, coaching, providing technical assistance and supporting the contractor to ensure quality sub-project implementation.

Engr. Allan C. Tatierra, I-BUILD Component Head of PRDP South Luzon, said that the the IQMDS training is relevant to ensure the quality of all sub-projects being implemented, sustain the project, and establish the PRDP brand. He said that IQMDS used to be one of the topics being discussed in the Contract Management Training and Supervision Skills Enhancement Workshop but the I-BUILD team opted to conduct a separate training to underscore its value in the project implementation.

Tatierra also cited the need for manpower to conduct day-to-day site inspection. He added that hopefully, through the IQMDS training, recurring quality issues will be prevented, disbursement will be fast-tracked,  and proper documentation will be proactively imposed.

The participants of the Training on Infrastructure Quality Monitoring and Durability System (IQMDS) scrutinize the document control system for the Rehabilitation/Improvement of Pistola-Tablon Road with 3 Units Bridges during an actual fieldwork held on October 18, 2016 in Oas, Albay. (Photo by Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

Engr. Marianne S. Ariño, newly-hired Rural Infrastructure Engineer of PRDP-Bicol, said that the IQMDS training equipped her for the tasks ahead. She added that the lectures and references given plus the experiences shared by senior engineers made her more confident to do her job.

Meanwhile, Tapire shared that materials quality starts with thorough and careful planning, investigation and execution of prescribed guidelines and specification. “It has to be followed religiously in order to result to a finished product or structure that is serviceable, usable and durable,” he added.

“I hope, with this training and continued trainings, ma-update ang ating mga knowledge. Ito ang paraan na mabago natin ang ating pananaw. Puwede nating baguhin ang sistema. Our determination, discipline at ang pananaw na kaya nating baguhin ang ating bayan,” Mayor Nilo V. Du of Placer, Masbate said.

PRDP is a six-year project being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, which is designed to increase farmers’ income and develop an inclusive, market-oriented and climate-resilient agri-fishery sector in targeted project areas nationwide. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)