NEWS STORY:

NEDA 4A: PRDP FMR in Sampaloc, Quezon, a model project

for rural development - RPMC 4A
The Regional Project Monitoring Committee led by the National Economic Development Authority -
CALABARZON commended the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Project
Regional Project Coordination CALABARZON and the local government of Sampaloc, Quezon for the
prompt, efficient, and effective implementation of the Mamala-Taquico-Caldong farm-to-market road.
This is after conducting a site visit on the FMR, discussing the good practices of the PRDP 4A and LGU,
and witnessing the testimonials of the project’s farmer-beneficiaries.

The RPMC is the monitoring arm of the Regional Development Council responsible for monitoring and
evaluating regional programs and projects of the government. To document experiences, lessons
learned, and good practices that may guide future government endeavors, the RPMC conducts
inspections on projects such as the Mamala-Taquico-Caldong FMR project. The FMR was implemented
by the PRDP 4A and the Sampaloc LGU to improve the local virgin coconut oil industry and residents'
access to essential services and economic opportunities.

The 10.4 km road during the inspection was functional, with farmers and residents using tricycles,
jeepneys, horses, and private vehicles to and from their farms, the town proper, and their homes, well-
maintained with clean shoulders, and with visible safety warnings in sloped areas. The RPMC also
observed that the farmlands and agricultural projects in the area along the road are actively operating,
one of which is the coconut hybridization project of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Among the good practices identified during the inspection were the close coordination of the LGU,
Contractor, and the PRDP 4A, the conduct of regular monitoring and quality tests on the works of the
road, the use of geotagging technology to document the progress of the project, proactive Municipal
Project Management and Implementing Unit, timely compliance of requirements and billing documents
with the DA-PRDP, and sustainability efforts such as the allocation of funds for the operations and
maintenance of the FMR, ordinances enjoining residents to actively participate in maintaining the FMR,
and the mainstreaming of PRDP tools in the LGU’s other projects such as the development of Plan of
Works, Detailed Engineering Design, Social and Environmental Safeguards, and Geomapping and
Governance documents.

The PRDP 4A Monitoring and Evaluation Unit also presented to the RPMC the summary of the recently
conducted Rapid Appraisal of Emerging Benefits of the FMR. The RPMC heard the testimonials of the
farmer-beneficiaries on the FMR, such as the significant decrease in hauling costs, travel time, and
damages incurred from hauling. These benefits led to positive developments in agricultural productivity,
the value of marketed outputs, access to agricultural inputs, projects, and opportunities, and, ultimately,
the farmers' income.

RPMC Secretary Valter Morada and Regional Development Council Private Sector Representative Engr.
Ladislao Andal expressed their admiration for the PRDP 4A and the Sampaloc LGU as the benefits
brought by the FMR are seen to be aligning with the government’s resolve to strengthen the agriculture
and fisheries sector and food security in the country and to improve the quality of life of Filipinos.
“The implementation of this project must be emulated by other local government units, especially since
Sampaloc, Quezon is a fifth-class municipality. We hope to see more projects with this kind of
implementation that is efficient, effective, and consistently stays true to its purpose,” shared RPMC
Secretary Morada.

Sampaloc Mayor Noel Angelo Devanadera expressed his gratitude to the RPMC for their recognition and
the PRDP 4A for their firm and fruitful partnership. He also expressed his optimism for the funding of
their next FMR project with the DA-PRDP, which will give way for the establishment of processing
facilities for coconut, agricultural enterprises, and agri-tourism activities. Currently, they are closely
coordinating with the PRDP 4A and the Quezon Provincial Local Government on this.

Other members of the team that joined the activity were Engr. Richard Engasa, Gied Evangelista, and
Marjorien Rapisura from NEDA CALABARZON, Sui Generis Santos, Julius Calivoso, and Cesar Contreras
from the Office of the President, Darrel de Chavez from the DILG, James Christopher Verano from the
DBM, Emerlinda Balce, Lovelyn Villanera, and Myla Ladines from the Sampaloc LGU, Crystal Jade
Padonan and Arman Pechon from the DA Region IV-A Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, and
MJ Gonzaga, Justine Vivas, Mary Jane Rayosa, Engr. Nicyl Lacasandile, Janine Vicente, Carlo Dorado,
Mikaela Remoquillo, and Myrelle Joy Bejasa from the PRDP 4A.#
PRESS RELEASE:

PRDP FMR in Sampaloc, Quezon, a model project for rural

development - RPMC 4A
The Regional Project Monitoring Committee led by the National Economic Development Authority -
CALABARZON commended the Department of Agriculture - Philippine Rural Development Project
Regional Project Coordination CALABARZON and the local government of Sampaloc, Quezon for the
prompt, efficient, and effective implementation of the Mamala-Taquico-Caldong farm-to-market road.
This is after conducting a site visit on the FMR, discussing the good practices of the PRDP 4A and LGU,
and witnessing the testimonials of the project’s farmer-beneficiaries.

The RPMC is the monitoring arm of the Regional Development Council responsible for monitoring and
evaluating regional programs and projects of the government. To document experiences, lessons
learned, and good practices that may guide future government endeavors, the RPMC conducts
inspections on projects such as the Mamala-Taquico-Caldong FMR. Last year, they also inspected and
recognized PRDP 4A subprojects in Sta. Maria and Cavinti, Laguna, for their remarkable project
implementation of another FMR (Sta. Maria) and a level II potable water system (Cavinti).

The Mamala-Taquico-Caldong FMR was implemented by the PRDP 4A and the Sampaloc LGU to improve
the local virgin coconut oil industry and residents' access to essential services and economic
opportunities. It has a project cost of Php 159,408,602.77, both from the DA-PRDP and the Sampaloc
LGU. It caters to 94 households in Brgy. Mamala, Taquico, and Caldong. The project was completed in
December 2020.

The 10.4 km road during the inspection was functional, with farmers and residents using tricycles,
jeepneys, horses, and private vehicles to and from their farms, the town proper, and their homes, well-
maintained with clean shoulders, and with visible safety warnings in sloped areas. The RPMC also
observed that the farmlands and agricultural projects in the area along the road are actively operating,
one of which is the coconut hybridization project of the Philippine Coconut Authority.

Among the good practices identified during the inspection were the close coordination of the LGU,
Contractor, and the PRDP 4A, the conduct of regular monitoring and quality tests on the works of the
road, the use of geotagging technology to document the progress of the project, proactive Municipal
Project Management and Implementing Unit, timely compliance of requirements and billing documents
with the DA-PRDP, and sustainability efforts such as the allocation of funds for the operations and
maintenance of the FMR, ordinances enjoining residents to actively participate in maintaining the FMR,
and the mainstreaming of PRDP tools in the LGU’s other projects such as the development of Plan of
Works, Detailed Engineering Design, Social and Environmental Safeguards, and Geomapping and
Governance documents.

The PRDP 4A Monitoring and Evaluation Unit also presented to the RPMC the summary of the recently
conducted Rapid Appraisal of Emerging Benefits of the FMR, which looks into the project’s success in
achieving the set project development goals of the DA-PRDP. The RPMC heard the testimonials of the
farmer-beneficiaries on the FMR, such as the significant decrease in hauling costs, travel time, and
damages incurred from hauling. These benefits led to positive developments in agricultural productivity,
the value of marketed outputs, access to agricultural inputs, projects, and opportunities, and, ultimately,
the farmers' income.

RPMC Secretary Valter Morada and Regional Development Council Private Sector Representative Engr.
Ladislao Andal expressed their admiration for the PRDP 4A and the Sampaloc LGU as the benefits
brought by the FMR are seen to be aligning with the government’s resolve to strengthen the agriculture
and fisheries sector and food security in the country and to improve the quality of life of Filipinos.

“The implementation of this project must be emulated by other local government units, especially since
Sampaloc, Quezon is a fifth-class municipality. We hope to see more projects with this kind of
implementation that is efficient, effective, and consistently stays true to its purpose,” shared RPMC
Secretary Morada.

Sampaloc Mayor Noel Angelo Devanadera expressed his gratitude to the RPMC for their recognition and
the PRDP 4A for their firm and fruitful partnership. He also expressed his optimism for the funding of
their next FMR project with the DA-PRDP, which will give way for the establishment of processing
facilities for coconut, agricultural enterprises, and agri-tourism activities. Currently, they are closely
coordinating with the PRDP 4A and the Quezon Provincial Local Government on this.

Other members of the team that joined the activity were Engr. Richard Engasa, Gied Evangelista, and
Marjorien Rapisura from NEDA CALABARZON, Sui Generis Santos, Julius Calivoso, and Cesar Contreras
from the Office of the President, Darrel de Chavez from the DILG, James Christopher Verano from the
DBM, Emerlinda Balce, Lovelyn Villanera, and Myla Ladines from the Sampaloc LGU, Crystal Jade
Padonan and Arman Pechon from the DA Region IV-A Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, and
MJ Gonzaga, Justine Vivas, Mary Jane Rayosa, Engr. Nicyl Lacasandile, Janine Vicente, Carlo Dorado,
Mikaela Remoquillo, and Myrelle Joy Bejasa from the PRDP 4A.

The Philippine Rural Development Project is a national project of the Department of Agriculture jointly
funded by the World Bank, the National Government, and participating LGUs that aims to establish a
modern, value chain-oriented, and climate-resilient agriculture and fisheries sector in the country. It
provides key infrastructure, facilities, technology, information, technical assistance, and capacity-
building activities to its proponent groups/beneficiaries to raise incomes, productivity, and
competitiveness in targeted areas. It is comprised of four components: the infrastructure development
component (I-BUILD), the planning component (I-PLAN), the enterprise development component (I-
REAP), and the operations support component (I-SUPPORT). In CALABARZON, the most commonly
implemented DA-PRDP projects are farm-to-market roads, potable water systems, and processing
facilities for various commodities such as coconut, coffee, dairy, etc.

This year, the DA-PRDP will be rebranded as the PRDP Scale-Up, which will take off from the PRDP’s
accomplishments and lessons learned in previous years. PRDP Scale-Up will have additional project
objectives that will cater to the rebuilding of commodity value chains, improvement of food supply chain
and logistics flow, investment prioritization of FMRs, the inclusion of post-production support for rice
and corn, and enhancement and mainstreaming of PRDP innovations. Local government units and
proponent groups interested/engaged in the above endeavors are encouraged to partner with the DA-
PRDP Regional Project Coordination Offices to fund and implement subprojects under the PRDP Scale-
Up.#