After concluding the series of teleconferencing with the Central Office, Regional Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo addressed and encouraged the participants of the two-day workshop in institutionalizing and mainstreaming the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) tools and sat down with them in critiquing outputs.

“Adopting these tools is not a one-shot deal. We need to look deeper into our practices and wedge the processes which made PRDP beneficial. Let us analyze how we can enhance our methodologies, and sprinkle the tools needed to improve. For example, for high-value crop development program, we look at the commodities along the value chain. Let us also consider what has already been included in the commodity investment plan of every province,” he said.

He motivated the group to take the lead in generating big ideas for the roadmap and should solicit inputs from the private sector and other stakeholders.

The roadmap should be the baseline in identifying viable access to the export markets and funding for research and development.

He emphasized the need for a value-chain approach to level up agriculture while making sure the smallholders also earn their fair share of the fruits of production along the value chain.

“Looking at how you are grouped now, that is per division, let us establish synergy in every research and outreach station using these tools. It is also understood that fielding positions like agricultural production coordinating officer and others might be needed.”

He thanked the participants for being always ahead of time and being proactive in meeting timelines in the delivery of services and having been with him in punctually responding to national directives during this time of the pandemic.

“I was talking to Sec. William Dar early this morning and he was saying we will once more mobilize the food transport to NCR which is again under the MECQ. We have done that ahead of time. With this mainstreaming activity which will culminate today, we are steps ahead of other Regions in adopting these PRDP tools.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Maria Lourdes Corsino, SES Officer, and main speaker during the workshop underscored the significance of teamwork and harmony in the incoming mainstreaming.

She has fueled the energy of the participants since day 1 and gave activities that were meant to look into the functions, activities, and constraints per division, and identification of PRDP tools needed in eradicating obstacles and fast-tracking the process.

The panel of discussants were the participants from the different divisions themselves-planning, monitoring and evaluation, field operations, finance and administration, integrated laboratories, engineering, research, agribusiness, and marketing, regulatory, including the banner programs.

A glimpse at PRDP

It is a World Bank –assisted national project under the Department of Agriculture that aims to establish a modern, inclusive, value chain-oriented and climate-smart agriculture and fishery sector.

It is operating a local-level convergence platform among stakeholders to synergize DA programs and projects facilitating the implementation of more relevant interventions.

The PRDP tools

The PRDP tools are Geomapping and Governance (GGU), Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), Social and Environmental Safeguards (SES), and the use of expanded and vulnerability and suitability assessment (E-VSA) in establishing enterprises and intensified building up of infrastructures. It also popularized the value chain assessment (VCA) and the commodity investment plan (CIP). (Ferdinand N Cortez, RPCO2 InfoACE Unit)