UPDATED. In a report by the Palawan Provincial Agricultural and Fishery Council (PAFC) monitoring team on the Department of Agriculture (DA)- funded projects in the province, the team found out that there are projects that were delivered but are no longer functioning due to either high operational costs or fuel.
PAFC Palawan conducted participatory monitoring and tracking (PMT) of DA- funded projects in the province on various dates from February to September this year.
PAFC Chairperson Roger Garinga led the PMT team where they monitored six projects from areas in Rizal, Roxas, Sofronio Espanola and Narra.
Aside from the high operation costs, the report presented some issues and concerns including some projects that were no longer utilized by the beneficiary and were transferred to a new site and need rehabilitation.
The team monitored the following projects and provided the details in matrix form which include the name of beneficiaries, the fund source, project type, status and date monitored.
Summary of Projects Monitored in the Province of Palawan
| Name of Beneficiary & Address | Fund Source | Project Type | Status | Date Monitored |
| Samahang Magsasaka ng MalambungaBrgy. Punta Baja, Dr. Jose P. RizalPalawan | Rice Program | Batch Type-Mechanical Dryer | Delivered but was not operationalized due to high operational cost/fuel | September 16, 2021 |
| UrCaTugMa Irrigators AssociationCaguisan, Narra Palawan | Rice Program | Flatbed Dryer | No longer utilized; transferred to a new site; needs rehabilitation | February 24, 2021 |
| New Covenant MPCAbaroan, RoxasPalawan | Rice Program | Fluidized Circulating Rice Drying Facility | Not yet completed and not yet utilized since installation of electricity is yet to be done | July 12, 2021 |
| Sofronio Espanola MPCPulot Center, Sofronio EspanolaPalawan | Corn Program | Village-type Corn Processing Facility | No longer operational due to high operational cost/electricity | July 18, 2021 |
| ELFAMCOElvita, NarraPalawan | Rice Program | Fluidized Circulating Rice Drying Facility | Not yet complete and not utilized since installation of electricity is yet to be done | August 3, 2021 |
| NIAMCONIA, NarraPalawan | Rice Program | Fluidized Circulating Rice Drying Facility | Not yet complete and not yet utilized since installation of electricity is yet to be done | August 3, 2021 |
They also monitored the prices of pork in the municipalities of Aborlan, Roxas, Bataraza and Brooke’s Point on various dates.
| Municipality | Hog (Live Weight)/Kilo | Pork/Kilo | Date Monitored |
| Aborlan | 120.00 | 240-250 | Feb. 17, 2021 |
| Roxas | 110.00 – 130.00 | 230.00 | April 6, 2021 |
| Bataraza | 140.00 | 240.00 – 250.00 | July 11, 2021 |
| Brooke’s Point | 130.00-140.00 | 240.00 – 250.00 | July 18, 2021 |
The results/findings on the projects monitored were presented during the Regional AFC Executive Committee Meeting which was held on August 04, 2021 via Zoom.
The monitoring team recommended the following:
- There should be a follow-through with the supplier/contractor for the completion of the projects to enable the recipients to utilize it and generate income.
- The beneficiaries should be provided by DA a copy of the project documents such as project proposal, memorandum of agreement, machine specifications, the organization’s equity, date of completion and other details of the project to ensure that the deliverables of the supplier are completed and the recipients are aware of their responsibilities as well.
- Take appropriate actions on projects that are no longer operational and needs rehabilitation;
- Verify the rightful ownership of the flatbed dryer project in order to inhibit the allegedly private owner to use the name of the UrCaTugMa Irrigators Association from soliciting assistance from the Department of Agriculture in favor of the Association.
Reports will be discussed during the exit conference of the monitoring activity. |JB
