Monitor WB-funded projects, COA tells Capitol

By: Gerome Dalipe

THE Commission on Audit (COA) urged the Iloilo Provincial Government to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation in the implementation of projects under the World Bank-backed Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).

State auditors noted the Provincial Government failed to prepare and submit its regular monitoring and evaluation reports on the implementation of PRDO to the Regional Project Coordination Office.

The discrepancy violated Sec. 2 (8) of the Enterprise and Investment Agreement of the Provincial Government.

“Thus the progress, success and effectiveness of the sub-projects were not tracked, and limited the formulation of measures and strategies to address delays or possible deviation in achieving the sub-projects’ objectives,” read the COA report.

The sub-projects (SPs) include farm-to-market roads (FMRs), bridges, communal irrigation systems (CIS), potable water systems (PWSs), production and post-production facilities and other post-production facilities and other infrastructure, such as fish landings, fish sanctuary/protected area guardhouses, among others.

The SPs are under the Intensified Building-Up of Infrastructure and Logistics for Development (IBuild) component of the PRDP. The program is funded by a loan from the World Bank.

Pursuant to the investment agreement, the Provincial Project Monitoring and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) should conduct regular monitoring and evaluation report pursuant to Results-Based Monitoring Evaluation (RBME) guidelines for the program.

It aims at building a clear understanding whether or not inputs or resources and process undertaken as the project progresses translate to outputs the project needs to produce from each component in order to achieve anticipated results.

The findings will be used to determine how inputs or process can be adjusted or factors that adversely affect it can be addressed to ensure that a project’s pace will be on track for the desired outputs and results.

The provincial monitoring unit confirmed to the auditors they did not conduct regular monitoring and evaluation of the sub-projects’ implementation.

The Capitol monitoring officer said they were unaware of such requirement in the implementation of the program since they were not able to attend any capacity building and training on the program.

In the annual report, the auditors said the program’s monitoring and evaluation is vital in determining the success or failure of a certain project.

“While evaluation puts emphasis on how inputs, resources and processes are translated into results and benefits. Monitoring and evaluation also assess the status of interventions, program mechanisms, and physical and financial progress of the project,” the COA report said.

The auditors also asked the governor to direct the provincial monitoring unit to facilitate training of personnel on the use of the system.