Members of the RPCO 02 discuss implementation plans of the various activities of PRDP CY 2015. Regional Executive Director and RPCO Program Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr. (inset middle photo) focused on the role of PRDP to the regional economy and that the workshop must yield outputs on how to attain the overall objectives of the project.

Members of the Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) of the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 02 (DA-RFO 02) convened on a two-day workshop to finalize the operational details of the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) creating a comprehensive action plan per project component for CY 2015.

With perfect attendance, the group arrived on February 8 at the Highlander Resort in Solano, Nueva Vizcaya to finalize details of the expected outputs and apportioned each members’ task and responsibilities for the successful implementation of the project.

Regional Executive Director and RPCO Head, Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr. said that the issuance of the No Objection Letter 1 (NOL 1) to the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela and Quirino carries with it the responsibility for the members of the RPCO to double their efforts in order to satisfy the requirements needed leading to the successful implementation of the Project and its components.

He stressed the role of PRDP in contributing to a sustainable economic growth for the agriculture and fishery sector of the region. He added that “the project is comparable to a department or an agency of the national government in terms of fund allocation and it is within the scope of our duty to work efficiently as a team in achieving its targets.”

RED Alviar also asked the group of the impact of PRDP to regional growth and development and that the creation of the action plan must specify the interventions needed to achieve an inclusive growth.

“The succeeding efforts that we need to exert should complement the enthusiasm, commitment and willingness of the Local Government Units (LGUs) to the Project,” said Regional Technical Director and RPCO Focal Person Lorenzo M. Caranguian commending the province of Quirino as the model province and forerunner in packaging proposals.

“It is through this workshop that we would be able to know the steps that each of us need to undertake in order to replicate the success of Quirino in other provinces with priority commodities that are yet to be submitted to the Project Support Office (PSO) for review,” he said.

The I-PLAN group headed by Ms. Kay Olivas, Planning Chief of the DA-RFO 02 initially handed down the action plan format to be accomplished by project component. Such format was issued by the World Bank (WB) and its completion is needed for delineating the role of each member for the successful operation of the Project.

Before the presentation of the action plans, RTD Caranguian explained details of the Project for the benefit of the newly-hired personnel. “It is essential that we are one in achieving the development objectives of the Project.”

Dr. Freddie Corsino, InfoAce Unit Head and Action Officer of the RPCO presented the proposed organizational structure of the RPCO underscoring the chain of responsibility among all members in order to prevent overlapping of roles and functions. The proposed functional structure along with the deployment of personnel will be presented for final approval by RED Alviar.

The group agreed that the action plan of the project component shall be enhanced incorporating comments and suggestions necessary for smooth project implementation. (Jaycee Capalungan)

Ms. Kay Olivas, Planning Chief of the DA-RFO 02 and I-PLAN Component Head discusses the action plans for the I-PLAN group subject for review and consolidation.