“Nakita namin yung mga pagkakamali namin dati na basta tanggap lang kami nang tanggap kung ano ang aming makita [na proyekto]. Ngayon binu-buhay ng PRDP ang mga tao na wag basta tumunganga, na empowered kayo. Be active. Sabihin ninyo ang inyong gusto at makipag-cooperate kayo.” These are the learnings of Yolanda Mendoza, the Focal Person of the San Teodoro Local Government Unit after attending the Citizen Monitoring Tool (CMT) Orientation held in San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro on June 22-23, 2022.

The Citizen Monitoring Tool (CMT) Orientation was conducted by the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) MIMAROPA and was attended by key barangay officials of Barangays Bigaan and Caagutayan, subproject beneficiaries of the Barangay Bigaan – Saclag, Caagutayan Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) with Bridge, subproject contractor Framecon Builders, and concerned representatives from the Local Government Unit of San Teodoro.

The CMT is designed to capacitate subproject beneficiaries so they can participate in the monitoring of the project implementation. Project Affected Persons (PAPs) are given a CMT Notebook containing a checklist questionnaire which highlights elements that beneficiaries should look out for to ensure smooth, quality, and timely implementation.

The CMT Orientation was a two-day event, composed of an orientation proper on the first day which outlines the concepts involved in monitoring construction, namely: the Contract Review Process, Inspection and Testing Procedures, Document Control Procedures, Operation and Maintenance Procedures, and Social and Environmental Aspects. This was supported by a walk-through of the 5.25-kilometer FMR on the second day which helped the PAPs visualize the concepts discussed on the first day.

The Barangay Captains of Barangays Bigaan and Caagutayan were nothing short of thankful to be able to see the construction of the FMR commence.

“Iyan po ang matagal na naming hinihiling, ang maayos ang kalsada dito dahil po sa panahon ng emergency cases, sa mga may sakit, dahil sa lubak-lubak na kalsada ay hindi agad maitakbo [sa ospital] ang mga pasyente. Tsaka yung mga kalakal pagdating dito, bagsak na ang kalidad kasi bugbog na yung produkto namin. Kaya isang napakalaking prebilehiyo iyan [kalsada] sa Barangay Caagutayan at Bigaan na nagkaron po ng ganitong project,” Caagutayan Captain Mariano Manabing  expressed.

“Doon po sa mga walang trabaho sa Brgy. Bigaan at Caagutayan, nagkaron po ng trabaho. Malaking bagay po yun lalo na ngayong pandemic dahil kahit paano ay naibsan o nabawasan ang kanilang kahirapan. Nagpapasalamat po kami at sana po ay walang maging problema ang proyektong ito,” Bigaan Captain Florencio Barcebal added.

The Barangay Bigaan – Saclag, Caagutayan FMR with Bridge has a total subproject cost of Php95 million and is expected to benefit 4,664 people under 999 households within its Road Influence Area (RIA). Construction started on May 2, 2022 and is expected to be completed by August 2023. (Danica A. Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit) 

CMT Day 2: Representative from the subproject contractor explaining the use of a “staka”, a measuring device used to establish the proper elevations of embankment, subgrade preparation, PCCP, and other structures. (Photo by Danica Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)

CMT Day 1: San Teodoro resident browsing through the Citizen Monitoring Notebook, a tool containing a checklist questionnaire of the important elements of the Infrastructure Quality Monitoring and Durability System (IQMDS). (Photo by Danica Brutas, DA-PRDP MIMAROPA RPCO InfoACE Unit)