A joint PSO Mindanao and RPCO BARMM team conducted on-ground monitoring on two critical infrastructure subprojects in Maguindanao on September 4-5.

Led by PRDP PSO Mindanao Deputy Project Director Carlene C. Collado, CPA, the team visited the sites for the “Concreting of Brgy. Pandan FMR” in South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur and the “Concreting of Brgy. Rempes – Brgy. Darugao Farm to Market Road” in North Upi, Maguindanao del Norte. Both subprojects are implemented under PRDP’s Second Additional Financing and European Union Co-Financing Grant (AF2-EU).

The team was joined by Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Administrator Atty. Cyrus Toreña, representatives from the provincial engineering office, as well as from the heads of Nirvana Construction and Supplies/Gabriellas Ent (Joint Venture) & Legacy Construction Corporation, contractors for the two infrastructure subprojects.

At the exit conference, Director Collado emphasized that with the closure of the AF2-EU by December 31, 2024, funding for the two subprojects would also end and further works will have to be shouldered by the contractors and the provincial government. He also highlighted the significance of completing these subprojects for future proposals for the province.

“The accomplishments and performance on these FMR subprojects will form the basis for the approval of future subprojects for Maguindanao,” said Collado.

Collado added that the World Bank has chosen to visit the two subprojects for the upcoming implementation support mission adding more urgency to their completion.

“I hope that with these reasons, the work can progress faster.”

With progress already falling behind and with only a few months left before the end of the year, the PSO Mindanao infrastructure team led by I-BUILD head Engr. Ma Fe Gabunales pointed out the findings from the site visit, reminding the contractors of their commitments made a few months ago to fast track their subproject completion.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Unit head Joseph Rico also added some points to improve on coming from the findings from the recently held citizen monitoring team training in the province.

Maguindanao del Sur Provincial Administrator Atty. Cyrus Toreña assured the PRDP team that the province will continue to support the progress on these subprojects and set schedules for the governor to meet with the contractors in the following week as well as promising to personally take part in the joint inspection team on the said FMR subprojects. ( Joseph John Palarca, InfoSpecialist| PSO Mindanao)