PSO North Luzon awards outstanding implementers for 2022

The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project North Luzon cluster awarded the outstanding project implementers at the local government unit and regional project coordination office levels during the general assembly at Subic Bay, Zambales on February 15, 2023.

A total of 32 awards and 4 special recognitions were handed over to the LGUs and RPCOs with notable performances and commendable accomplishments in subproject implementation for 2022.

Topping the list is the Cagayan Valley region, with 13 awards (LGU and regional awards combined), followed by the Ilocos region with 9, Cordillera Administrative Region with 7, and Central Luzon with 6 awards.

Under the I-BUILD Component, the Municipality of Ramon, Isabela bagged three awards for having the highest disbursement and physical accomplishment rates for the subproject Proposed Warehouse with Solar Dryer, and for having the most number of approved infrastructure subprojects under the Second Additional Financing (AF2).

The Central Luzon region received the most recognition under the I-REAP Component, with three, namely the fastest complying I-REAP proponent group until approval of the proposed medium enterprise subproject (Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magsisibuyas ng Nueva Ecija or KASAMNE); LGU with the Highest Percentage Rate of Sustainable Enterprise Subprojects (Province of Tarlac); and Region with the Highest AF2 Disbursement Rate.

Three regions and one province were awarded a recognition plaque, each, under the I-PLAN Component. Each region was recognized for initiating a new value chain analysis in the cluster, including the VCA for the Mushroom (RPCO2), Broiler Chicken (RPCO3), and Highland Vegetables (RPCO-CAR), while the Province of Ilocos Sur was awarded for being the pioneer LGU in endorsing the Updated PCIP Incorporating Risks and Climate Considerations as prescribed in the E-OM of the component.

Some units also gave awards and recognitions under the I-SUPPORT Component. The Procurement unit presented awards to the KASAMNE from Central Luzon, Municipality of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, and RPCO2 for excelling in the procurement process of subprojects.

The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Unit recognized the RPCO2 for having the most number of conducted monitoring and evaluation activities in the cluster.

The Social and Environmental Safeguards awarded the Province of Kalinga and Municipality of Aguinaldo, Ifugao, for being the best implementing LGU and fastest LGU in safeguards compliance, respectively.

The Geomapping and Governance Unit (GGU) also named the Province of Kalinga and the City of Santiago, Isabela, as the best LGUs in the adoption and practice of the applied geotagging tool (AGT) in their respective regions, while the Ilocos region was given recognition for being the lead region to innovate the Drone-Video Processing Tool in the cluster.

Meanwhile, four special awards were given to individuals and staff in the cluster in recognition of their exemplary performance.

The National Deputy Project Director Shandy M. Hubilla, with PSO Project Director Crispulo G. Bautista, Jr, led the awarding of plaques and certificates.

Below is the complete list of awards presented during the cluster awarding ceremony. (Ericson M. Guiao, PSO North Luzon InfoACE)