Philippine Rural Development Project (PRPD) South Luzon cluster continuously improves its performance based on the data presented during the combined First Quarter Assessment Meeting and Second Quarter Planning Workshop on April 10-12, 2019 in Mataasnakahoy, Batangas.

The three-day activity aims to assess the performance of the cluster for the first quarter and plan targets for the second quarter.

In the presentation of PRDP South Luzon Project Support Office Deputy Project Director Shandy Hubilla, the cluster tops in the Value Chain Analyses (VCA) creation nationwide. It has 35 approved VCAs or 1/3 of the total nationwide. Among the cluster’s regions, MIMAROPA has the highest number of VCAs with 13, followed by Bicol with 11, and CALABARZON with nine. The VCAs for swine and coco sugar were also crafted for the whole cluster.

These VCAs were used in crafting Commodity Investment Plans (CIPs) of all 16 provinces in the cluster and the cities of Puerto Princesa and Naga.

In terms of I-BUILD component, 17 of the 52 subprojects have been completed that cost P461.83 million. The cluster was able to physically accomplished 43 percent this quarter versus its target of 52 percent.

The CALABARZON region captured 47 percent or P1.95 billion of infrastructure investments in the cluster. Bicol region has P1.60 billion or 39 percent of the I-BUILD subprojects while the remaining 14 percent (P590.57 million) comes from MIMAROPA.

The cluster targeted 46 percent disbursement rate. So far, it disbursed 45 percent (P1.48 billion) out of the P3.26 billion obligated for the I-BUILD subprojects.

For the I-REAP component, there are 19 completed subprojects worth P22.97 million. The cluster was able to reach its targeted physical accomplishment of 19 percent this quarter.

In the distribution of approved subproject cost by region, CALABARZON has the highest share with 52 percent amounting to P159 million. Bicol region has P90.99 million or 29 percent while the remaining 19 percent (P58.59 million) comes from MIMAROPA.

The cluster already disbursed 49 percent of the P309.38 million obligated fund amounting to P151.41 million.
Of the six regions supported with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant, three are in South Luzon. Seventy-one percent (P38.50 million) of the cost is composed of Marine Protected Areas subprojects while the remaining 20 percent (P15.35 million) are Microenterprise Project investments.

GEF was able to accomplish 17 percent of its physical targets; well below the 30 percent targeted for the first quarter while 57 percent of its finances has also been obligated this quarter.

In order to recognize the top performing region in the cluster for the first quarter of 2019, an awarding ceremony was also held as part of the activity. Bicol region bagged the best overall performance award.  ### (Lawrence Albert Bariring, DA-PRDP CALABARZON RPCO InfoACE Unit)

South Luzon PSO Project Director Engr. Arnel de Mesa leads the discussion on setting the I-BUILD targets with the PSO and RPCOs Director, Deputy Project Directors, and I-BUILD Component Heads. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)