Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte | A pre-construction conference happened today, as the MLGU of Rizal is about to begin implementation of two DA-PRDP infrastructure development subprojects.

These two subprojects are: 1) Rehabilitation/Concreting of NRJ San Roque – Rizalina FMR measuring 5.90 kilometers to be completed by DL Construction (the winning bidder) in 353 calendar days with 95 unworkable days based on the approved program of works and detailed engineering design; 2) Rehab/Concreting of 3.29-kilometer Mapang-Mabuhay FMR to be implemented by M. Abubakar Construction and Engineering, Inc. for the duration of 236 calendar days with 79 unworkable days.

“At long last all our effort has paid off. When I learned that our proposed FMR rehab/concreting got No Objection Letter No. 2 of (NOL2), I was very happy,” Municipal Engineer Jenifer Sagaray was saying, as he opened the activity sharing their ordeal in preparation documents until the procurement process was fulfilled.

Attended by the engineering team of the winning contractors and some members of the municipal project management and implementation unit of Rizal, the pre con was conducted by the Regional Project Coordination Office technical team led by I-BUILD component head Juanito C. Taripe, Jr.

The Implementation Management Agreement (IMA) Framework among and between the DA-PRDP, LGU and its citizens and the Contractor was discussed by Rural Infrastructure Engr. Junars Maghuyop. He laid down all the important provisions of the contract; the implementation arrangements and structure as well as the roles and responsibilities of the three parties.

Mayor Marissa D. Manigsaca attended the conference for a while and was seen jotting down important points. Admitting to be new to the office as Rizal’s local chief executive she has to learn about how DA-PRDP implements its subprojects.

Under the Additional Financial and European Union (EU) grant, the total subproject cost is being shared in four financing mix – 60 percent from loan proceeds (World Bank); 20 percent EU; 10 percent GOP and 10 percent LGU. Thus, Finance Analyst Elvis Dial explained about the need of the LGU to open four checking accounts for each of the two separate subprojects. He also provided the necessary documents to be submitted by the contractor when requesting for payment of work accomplished.

In the social and environmental aspect of the project implementation, Associate Social and Environmental Safeguards Officer Rammel Lasagas, emphasized the big role of the barangay captains as well as the designated safety officers of the contractors. They are to ensure that the social and environmental safeguards are carried out during project implementation. During the construction period, among others, SES would check on the manpower schedule and construction safety and health plan of the contractor. He discussed the contractor’s compliance checklist.

GIS Data Officer Christopher Briones discussed the Applied Geotagging Tools (AGT) of PRDP where the transparency and public disclosure of the status of the subproject implementation is known. The RPCO’s Geo-mapping and Governance Unit (GGU) issues an AGT Certificate as one vital supporting document to the billing request of the contractor.

Engr. Taripe advised both the MPMIU and the contractors to maintain a complete file of all quality assurance test results and technical documents in any case these subprojects be visited in one of the World Bank Implementation Review Mission.

Following the pre construction conference, a groundbreaking ceremonies on the two mentioned subprojects are being set tomorrow, Sept. 6. Regional Project Director Rad Donn L. Cedeño is expected to grace the occasion. (RPCO 9 Remai Alejado)