LEGAZPI CITY, ALBAY – The six provinces of Bicol received P10.96 billion-worth of non-Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) investments as a result of its convergence with other national government agencies (NGAs). This was announced by PRDP-Bicol Planning Specialist Mary Ann Cuya during the Bicol Regionwide Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) Implementation Assessment and Interagency Convergence Planning for 2021 Budget Inclusion held in this city on November 26-29, 2019, which aimed to continue the operationalization of the inter-agency convergence and enhance, update and institutionalize the PCIPs with the NGAs and the provinces of Bicol as a planning tool for implementation.

Of the total amount invested, P1.69 billion-worth of interventions were completed, P813,140 million programs and projects are on-going, P8.13 billion are proposed while P323.66 million are under procurement. The report, which was generated from the PRDP web-based Management Information System (MIS) investment tracking, shows that among the top contributors to the inter-agency convergence are the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the Department of Public Works and Highways. Other supporters are the municipal and provincial local government units (M/PLGUs), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

Present during the Bicol Regionwide Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) Implementation Assessment and Interagency Convergence Planning for 2021 Budget Inclusion were representatives from different NGAs in Bicol. These include Joel Valenzuela of PCA, Santos Mirandilla of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Joelle Benavidez of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Roy Bañas of the Department of Education, Maria Janice Obias of Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC), Engr. Sergio Uy of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Melanie Patricio of PhilFIDA, Roussel Balaoro of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Nida Hagos of Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center, Ernesto Tabing of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS), Raymond Marcelino, Renato Acacio and Marianito Tesorero of the DA. The NGA representatives assisted the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Units (PPMIUs) of the six provinces in the region in their planning and budgeting workshop.

PRDP-Bicol I-PLAN Component Head Aloha Gigi Bañaria called for the participants’ support in the VCA and PCIP updating. She also suggested the inclusion of the private sector in the inter-agency convergence.

“Hopefully next year, maraming VCAs ang ma-update, maraming No Objection Letter (NOL ) issuance and that of the PCIP updating. Ang importante yung investment para po sa satuyang mga paraoma asin mga parasira,” she added. As of November 14, 2019, I-PLAN Bicol accounts for 29 percent share of approved value chain analysis (VCAs) of the South Luzon Cluster with 11 approved VCAs. Six provinces and one city in the region also have updated PCIPs. The VCAs and PCIPs served as the DA-Bicol’s basis in the crafting of the Bicol Regional Agriculture and Fishery Modernization Plan (RAFMP) as well as in the annual planning and budgeting process. (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA RAFIS V)