The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) sees its various stakeholders, particularly its beneficiaries, as partners in achieving the Project’s goals and objectives.

In the implementation of the PRDP, the efforts of ordinary citizens like the project beneficiaries or proponent groups (PGs) matter. They play a vital role in the subprojects’ procurement process, particularly in the subprojects under enterprise development (I-REAP) component and Global Environment Facility (GEF) support. This is through the procurement method: Community Participation.

The Loan Agreement for PRDP, Ln. No. 8421-PH, states that for community subprojects, the procurement method should follow community participation method under Section 3.19 of the World Bank Procurement Guidelines. In this method, PGs are given the opportunity to take part in the subproject implementation.

During a visit in the Roxas GEF sites, an ordinary citizen and proponent group member, Melchor Velasco, shared the learning and empowerment brought by Community Participation. “Nahirapan ako sa umpisa [community participation] dahil mahaba ang proseso, marami ang pinagdadaanan pero ito naman ay kinaya para sa ikabubuti [ng proyekto]. Nais din naming ipagpatuloy itong proseso sa iba naming proyekto (The procurement process through community participation was hard at first. But, I worked hard to comply because this is for the good of our subproject. We are also willing to practice the same process in our future projects),” he said.

The said procurement method, limited for contract cost amounting to less than US$50,000.00, promotes the principles of fairness, effectiveness, transparency, accountability, and local industry inclusiveness.

Velasco, a member of the Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Caramay Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MMCMPC), was elected as the procurement head for the PRDP-GEF subproject “Live Green Grouper Production in Brgy. Caramay”. Together with two more members, the PG’s procurement team were capacitated by the PRDP through training and coaching. The team then facilitated the purchasing process for their floating cage’s goods and works—grouper fingerlings, service banca, weighing scales, tape measures, styro box, oxygen tank, and labor for the construction of the cage.

He also highlighted the importance of geotagging for the purpose of transparency. The PRDP requires the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Roxas to submit geotagged photos of delivery and distribution of goods but also encourages to practice the same in other procurement activities. Velasco shared that the said photos are presented during their regular meetings which further fosters trust among members. During their meetings, members are also updated of the progress of procurement activities.

Moreover, according to Sheena Ibo, PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office (PSO) Procurement Unit’s focal person for GEF sites in MIMAROPA region, community participation is beneficial for the small suppliers in the community too, the locality wherein the PG operates and the goods are produced and traded. “Ang kagandahan nito, we empower not just the PG but also the local industries or the backyard suppliers. We give them chance to participate in the bidding. Ito ay opportunity to earn for them. (Through the community participation method, we empower not just the PG but also the local industries or backyard suppliers. We give them the opportunity to participate in the bidding thus giving them opportunity to earn),” she explained.

The PRDP South Luzon PSO Associate Procurement Officer Clarinda Sarmiento, on the other hand, pointed out that the local government units must do their part in coordinating and monitoring the PG’s procurement activities to validate the process and ensure all requirements are met. ### (Rio Christine Bustamante, DA-PRDP South Luzon PSO InfoACE Unit)