“Work as one to achieve our goals,” said Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO) Deputy Project Director Shandy Hubilla during the midyear assessment and management meeting held on the last week of September in Panicuason, Naga City.

The PRDP PSO and its regional counterparts convened for the said activity to assess the cluster’s performance in terms of Project implementation and plan how to achieve its succeeding targets.

As of September 21, the cluster achieved 35% and 38% disbursement rates for both infrastructure development (I-BUILD) and enterprise development (I-REAP) components respectively. Technical staff from the regional project coordination offices (RPCO) presented per subproject updates and their strategies on how to accelerate progress.

Improved monitoring of I-BUILD subprojects

DPD Hubilla enjoined all the RPCOs to work on increasing the cluster disbursement rate from 35% to 45% or more for the I-BUILD component. To achieve this, he emphasized the need to be proactive and be hands-on in supervising the subprojects through regular field visits and close coordination with the local government units and contractors.

Table 1. I-BUILD SPs cumulative disbursement rate as of September 21, 2018

As of September 21, there are 44 approved subprojects in the cluster. Three of which are under procurement, 20 are under implementation, and 11 were completed. The subprojects for 2019 additional financing were also presented during the activity. In total, the cluster has 18 subprojects in the pipe line being processed for issuance of No Objection Letter 1.Driven to exert more effort, the RPCOs, particularly the rural infrastructure engineers, guaranteed to assist the LGUs to be punctual in submitting documentary requirements relative to the subproject implementation to avoid delay of progress.

Increase in I-REAP disbursement

The efforts of the I-REAP component to enhance the key competencies of the proponent groups (PGs) of the PRDP enterprises were commended by DPD Hubilla. He encouraged to continue this effort at the same time work on accelerating the component’s cluster disbursement performance from 38% to 45% or more before November.

Table 2: I-REAP SPs cumulative disbursement rate as of September 21, 2018

Enhancing skills of technical staff

As of September 21, there are 62 approved subprojects in the cluster. Forty-four of which are under procurement, 15 are under implementation, and three are completed.During the activity, the I-REAP component, procurement, finance, and compliance units pledged to work together to achieve high disbursement rate vis-à-vis obligation. It was also proposed that the component’s staff secure timely submission of liquidation documents and request for second tranche.

Simultaneous with the assessment activity, the cluster conducted a technical writing workshop for the project development associates of components and units, executive assistants, and InfoACE Unit staff of the PSO and RPCOs. The workshop focused on writing letters, memorandums, and minutes of the meeting and aimed to enhance writing skills of the participants.

Professor Mary Joyce Bulao of Ateneo de Naga University, the resource person for the said activity, also shared practical tips for effective writing.

At the end of the assessment and the technical writing workshop, DPD Hubilla expressed his gratitude for the continued support of the PRDP staff and reminded everyone to fulfill their duties with honor and excellence.  ### (Rio Christine Bustamante, DA-PRDP South Luzon PSO InfoACE Unit)

PRDP South Luzon PSO Deputy Project Director Shandy Hubilla opens the midyear assessment and management meeting, presents agenda, and shares words of motivation to the participants from the PSO and RPCOs. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)

Participants from Bicol region prepare their output for the cluster’s technical writing workshop. The cluster simultaneously held the said workshop and the midyear assessment. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)