InFOCUS May to July 2021 (2nd Quarter issue)

I-BUILD AT A GLANCE P750M PROJECTS FOR
CENTRAL VISAYAS GAINS
As of June 15, 2021, the overall physical
progress target of the four (4) completed RPAB ENDORSEMENT
subprojects and seven (7) ongoing
subprojects is 69.14% with an actual average Comprising the four (4) big-ticket projects with
physical progress of 72.24% having an RPAB approval are three (3) Potable Water Systems
average variance of 3.10%. for the Municipalities of Moalboal,Catmon in Cebu
The actual value of progress of the on-going Province and Cataban Island in Talibon Bohol; and a
subprojects in the 2nd Quarter is at Php 537 Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) with four bridges for the
Million with an increase of Php 52M from Municipality of Calape in Bohol.
Php 485 Million in the 1st Quarter with 65
kilometers for farm-to-market roads (FMR) Said projects which costedto be more than P750
and approximately 3,187 Household million are bound to change thousands of lives across
beneficiaries for PWS Subproject. Central Visayas.

Source: Monitoring & Evaluation Unit For the Municipality of Moalboal, the endorsement
of its water project proposal would maximize the
potential of its Taguinis Spring to provide water to six
(6) identified barangays from Bala, Lower Lanao, Tuble,
Poblacion East, Tunga and Saavedra serviceable to more
than 1,700 households.

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STRAIGHT TALK

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge our ways
and approaches of doing things in the region.

The varying strict protocols of the provinces have
made project implementation, coordination and project
monitoring quite a demanding activity. But despite these,
maximizing the virtual platform has enabled continued
deliverance of quality and close-knit supervision of both
infrastructure and enterprise subprojects as required of the
Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

Behind the virtual platforms are also our efforts of speeding
up mainstreaming efforts of the tools and good practices
from PRDP that can boost the delivery of services in the
Agriculture Department.

Atty., Salvador D. Diputado LLM., Ph.D
Project Director, PRDP RPCO 7

The course of direction of the Regional Project
Coordination Office (PRCO 7) for the year is to
further increase the engagement of the Municipal Local
Government Units (MLGUs) in Central Visayas with the
Philippine Rural Development
Project (PRDP).

Directly tapping MLGU’s ownership of the would-be
project likewise speed up document preparation process
while ensuring quality projects are created and approved
duly intended and needed by the agri-fishery sector.

This is a work in progress to benefit the entire Region VII.

Engr. Cirilo N. Namoc
Deputy Project Director, PRDP RPCO 7

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Php 750M PROJECTS FOR CENTRAL
VISAYAS GAINS RPAB ENDORSEMENT

According to Moalboal Mayor Paz 1,390 households.
Rozgoni, the realization of the project will
also lessen the burden on expenses Meanwhile, the move to Rehabilitate and
incurred by residents for its daily water Upgrade the 12.6-km Desamparados to
consumption from private water Taboan with four bridges in Calape, Bohol
distributors aside from the convenience is seen to liven up economic activities in
and time-efficient means of fetching water the area.
it can offer in the future. It will be able to service some 5,000
households, reduce not only travel time
For the Municipality of Catmon, eight (8) but as well as hauling expenses by half and
upland barangays from Duyan, Agsuwao, converting idle lands into productive fruit
Cambangkaya, Tabili, Can-ibuang, Bactas, or high-value crop areas.
Ginabucan and Tinabyonan are to benefit “This (review) is a particularly challenging
from its proposed water project. It will uti- activity, we have been closely coordinating
lize its lumanoy spring located in
Cambangkaya and is expected to serve with various local government units so
more than 1,500 households. that we can endorse several projects
and have a pie of the Additional
The development of the spring will Financing (AF2),’’ Deputy Project
eventually shorten the distance and Director Engr. Cirilo Namoc said.
minimize the hassles of fetching water of The RPAB-approved proposals will then
Catmon residents who mostly rely on be endorsed to the Project Support
level one sources or atabay which are Office Visayas (PSO-Visayas) for the
non-potable according to Catmon issuance of a NO Objection Letter 1
Mayor Iris Baylon. (NOL-1). / BPJ

The installation of a potable 3
water system in Cataban
Island, an island barangay in
Talibon Bohol will
not only provide safe and
potable water for its
residents but will ease labor costs and
other expenses they incur on daily boat
trips that would ferry the gallons to
mainland Talibon and vice versa.

The water system is also a good
alternative for the residents during
periods when the wells would be too salty
for household chores. It will benefit some

INABANGA, BOHOL FMR,
NEARS COMPLETION;
ECOURAGES ACCESS TO
AGRICULTURE

Much has significantly changed with how the once gravel road
with dilapidated concrete Dagnawan to Dagohoy Farm-to-Market
Road (FMR) in Inabanga, Bohol looks at present.

Garnering a 99.22% physical progress it now breathes of con-
crete pavement with a 1.5 shoulder on both sides, a sturdy line
canal and offers benefits that communities connected by the
FMR are grateful for.

“Difficulty is an understatement; it was not easy to reach the
municipal hall, plus fares are quite expensive, quite a big
difference today wherein in just 10 minutes to half an hour can
reach our desired destination,” Ferdeliza Amistoso a barangay
official of Dagnawan said.

Amistoso highlighted that the rehabilitated FMR now made it
possible for emergency and non-emergency activities to be
rapidly done.

“It’s now a lot easier to head to the market in Inabanga, the road
is now wide, no more long walks as well as disembarking and
getting back on the habal-habal whenever the road is littered
with either potholes or stones,” Amistoso further added.

96-year-old Benigno Bituin could only look back on their past

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struggles over their 40-year-old road. It used to
take him three to four hours while carrying a sack
of potato from the farm passing through four (4)
barangays to reach the market in Inabanga.

“It’s a lot different now because we now have a
beautiful road,’’ Benigno said.

Johansen Amistoso a farmer of Dagnawan shared
that movement in and out of the FMR has been
easy with the rehabilitated road.

He added that transport was all done through
carabao driven method in the past years and the
previous road was more of a creek than of a road.

According to the Municipal Agriculture’s Office
(MAO) of Inabanga, copra hauling from Banahaw
to Sagbayan costs at P100 before but since the
improvement of the FMR, it’s the buyer now who
does the pick-up direct at the farm.

In addition, the road brought more farmers from
upland areas closure to the agriculture office and
has since gained access to its various services
ranging from seeds, insurances and other
agricultural-related programs.

“We have observed an increasing clientele because
in the past we could only monitor less than 5
individuals a month who would visit our office for
services. From 5 before we are now catering to
almost 30 and that makes us truly busy but hap
py,” Genaro Logroñio, Inabanga Municipal
Agriculturist said.

Traversing over 6.941-km Dagnawan to Dagohoy
FMR is the shortest way to reach adjacent
barangays of Sagbayan and Danao. It is also the
shortest distance that commuters may take in
going to Tagbilaran City as it can be used as a
shortcut via Sagbayan, Catigbian, Balilihan, Corella
and Cortes. / BPJ.

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CMT INTEGRATION IN THE BARANGAY
AN EYE OPENER

“We were trained to take part, to do Citing an example of a canal they have
our part by calling their (contractor’s) inspected and referred to the contrac-
attention and criticize work if need to,” tor for retrofitting gave them a sense of
fulfillment, pride, and involvement of
Tabaco said. being a part of the rehabilitation.

Two years later, after completing a “There is a need to show concern towards
training way back in 2019, Barangay our surroundings, not necessarily one has
officials from Barangay Anonang Sur in to be an official of the barangay, one’s
Bogo City, Cebu appreciates the impacts involvement enables one to be
of adopting the Citizen’s Monitoring Tool appreciative and to give importance to a
in project monitoring. certain project,” Tabaco shared.

The Citizen’s Monitoring Tool (CMT) – a Inspections done by the BIT are random
Philippine Rural Development Project and are conducted at least once or twice
(PRDP) monitoring instrument promotes a month as shared by Flora Mangubat a
a sense of ownership and ensuring the barangay secretary and BIT member.
timeliness, quality of an implemented
subproject. She points out that if it was not for the
CMT training then they will never be
According to Barangay Captain able to appreciate the importance of
Jeanelyn Tabaco of Anonang Sur who conducting monitoring at the barangay
heads the Barangay Inspectorate Team level.
(BIT), integrating the CMT tool in their
monthly monitoring activities allowed To ignite community involvement,
them to cultivate sensitivity towards Tabaco has tapped its purok system to aid
specific developments unfolding in their in monitoring the project./BPJ
area.

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“Tapping the purok system to aid us in monitoring the
project offers convenience as issues are directly reported to us
and brought to a session for action,” Tabaco highlighted.

Community participation is important as it encourages
reportorial and resolutions to issues that may arise during
rehabilitation Carlo Fernando Logarta, City Planning and
Development Coordinator said./ BPJ

Being appreciative of the project was more than Overall, the Citizen Monitoring Tool (CMT)
enough but to be given the opportunity to be part made us feel INVOLVED like we have CON-
of ensuring the QUALITY of a project (road) gives TRIBUTED to the project (road)at hand.

us a sense of OWNERSHIP. - Jeanelyn Tabaco
Barangay Captain Anonang Sur, Bogo City, Cebu
- Jojie Andales
Barangay Kagawad Anonang Sur, Bogo City, Cebu 7

Php 7.840-M NATIVE CHICKENMARKETING
ENTERPRISE FOR CATMON GETS RPAB NOD

Sealing in Central Visayas’s 7th Native Rogelio Pontillas, president of the
Chicken support, the Regional Project Tabili Farmer’s Association (TAFA)
Advisory Board (RPAB) inked its approval for shared, that it will provide not just
the Catmon Native Chicken Breeding added income-generating means to
Production and Marketing Enterprise communities in Catmon, but also answer
amounting to P7.840 million. to the growing demand of the native
chicken industry in the area.
The sub-project which is a start-up
enterprise will support 12 associations and TAFA will take charge of the
cooperatives in the municipality of Catmon consolidation and deliveries for both live
with the Tabili Farmers and dressed chicken to the identified
Association (TAFA) as its lead proponent restaurants, resorts and native chicken
group (PG). carenderias all over Catmon.

Its operations will involve breeding, pro- “We are targeting 58 beneficiaries for
duction, and marketing of fresh eggs and the first cycle and expecting to add more
dressed native chicken which will be when we have ample hardened chicks for
supported by the Philippine Rural member distribution,” Pontillas said.
Development Project (PRDP) with start-up
capital investments from breeding stocks, Based on their proposal the
incubation, brooding equipment and enterprise targets to produce around
breeding house facilities. 21,845 dressed chickens and 17,640 eggs
annually.
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Mayor Iris Baylon-Gestopa of Catmon Mayor Gestopa said.
has vowed to extend support in the
monitoring and marketing aspects of She added the local government will
TAFA’s products once the enterprise also set aside additional financial
begins its operation. aside from aid in marketing and in
monitoring the project. / BPJ
“With TAFA showing great interest in
this project, the local government will
help link them to line agencies that can
contribute to sustaining the project,”

PRDP TEAM INSPECTS CEBU
MICRO ENTEPRISES

The Philippine Rural Development Project - assets and to evaluate the all aspects of the
project implementation and enterprise
Project Support Office (PRDP-PSO) operations to assess their readiness to
together with the Regional Project Coordination project turnover.
Office (RPCO 7) and Provincial Management and “All Supplies in the procurement plan were
Implementing Unit (PPMIU) of Cebu conducts a procured and the contruction of both
joint inspection of the P953,600 Swine poultry and piggery were 100%
Production and Marketing of the Proponent completed”./ Joeffrey Geonzon, Associate
Group Hiniusang Gagmayng mag-uuma sa Procurement Officer.
Tambongon (HIGMATA) in the Municipality of
San Remigio and P797,300 Native 9
Chicken Production and Marketing Enteprise of
the Kapunungan sa Mag-uuma sa Mano of the
same municipality.
The said inspection team aims to thoroughly
inspect subprojects’ documents. physical site

SEAWEED STORAGE CONSTRUCTION
IN GETAFE BOHOL, RECORDS 88%
PHYSICAL PROGRESS

Pure excitement-filled Artemio Ompalid
President, of the Alumar Farmers and
Fishermen Association (AFFAS) lead
proponent group of the Bohol Seaweeds
Production, Consolidation and Marketing
Enterprise a Department of Agriculture –
Philippine Rural Development Project
(DA-PRDP) supported enterprise in Getafe,
Bohol following the progress
garnered by the ongoing seaweeds
warehouse facility constructed in Poblacion
of the said municipality.

He shared that he frequents the project site
to catch a glimpse of the facility’s
construction.“Seeing it in its almost
completed phase raises my dopamine levels,”
he said.

“Murag gibayaw mi sa kalami! Naa na jud
mi kabutangan sa among produkto na ma-
tawag namo nga amo-a.”
“It feels like I am on cloud nine, we now have
a safe place to store our seaweeds that we
can call our own”, Artemio Ompalid, Presi-
dent of the Alumar Farmers and Fishermen
Association (AFFAS) said.

Though yet to be completed, the majority of
the seaweed farmers in Bohol are now itch-
ing to be able to use the facility as soon as
possible as this will eventually put an end to
their struggles of time-consuming and cost-
ly transport activities for their
seaweeds.

SEAWEEDS TRANSPORT BEHIND THE SCENE. Members of the Joint Inspectorate
Team from RPCO 7, PPMIU, OPV and PG snaps a photo
From the farm blocks, the seaweed harvest with the nearly completed storage warehouse a feat born out
undergoes quality control before loading to of team effort.
a pump boat which will ferry the product to

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mainland Talibon, from there it is hauled by PROPONENT GROUP APRIL -MAY HARVEST
porters and is loaded again to a tricycle who
will then deliver the seaweeds to the buyer’s AFFAS 17, 630 kgs
address.
GEFMACO 9,280 kgs
A farmer will shoulder charge for hauling per
sack from the pump boat, for the porters and MAFMACO 7,150 kgs
tricycle fare - hard on the farmer’s pockets.
Above table shows inputs of the cluster members during
2021 HARVEST its April- May 2021 harvest.

While waiting for the enterprise’s working
capital from PRDP, AFFAS and three of its
cluster members are proud to share that they
have harvested a total of 34 tons of
seaweed from April to May 2021 after
receiving 123,000 kilograms of seedlings
from PRDP in February 2021.

Once AFFAS receives the working capital, they
will automatically begin the enterprise
operation on a province-wide seaweed
consolidation scale. / BPJ.

VIRGIN COCONUT PROCESSING
CENTER IN JAGNA, BOHOL NEARS

COMPLETION.

Php 3.71 million worth Virgin
Coconut Oil (VCO) Processing Center
in Kinagbaan, Jagna, Bohol now records
94.16% physical progress.
The facility, managed by the
Kinagbaan Coconut Farmers and
Processors Organization (KCFPO) and
its cluster members, targets to process
around 1,000 nuts/day once the facility
becomes operational.

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Installation of 30 units breeder and grow-out houses for the
Batuan Native Chicken Breeding and Chicks Hardening Facilities
and Marketing Enterprise in Batuan,Bohol.