The Central Luzon Region’s Participatory Monitoring and Tracking (PMT) team Along with the Monitoring and Evaluation Section Staff of PCAF ), conducted monitoring of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-funded programs and projects in Bulacan on September 14 to 17, 2021.
The team monitored 26 projects in Malolos City and in the municipalities of Balagtas, Baliwag Calumpit, Pandi, Plaridel, San Ildefonso, and San Rafael.
Out of the 26 projects, 17 are utilized while nine are unutilized. All the Farm-to-Market roads (FMR) were completed and are serviceable to the farmers and households in their respective barangays.
“It is now convenient to transport agricultural inputs and products going to the markets and trading centers. Aside from this, family members of the farmers are grateful to DA for constructing the FMRs that give convenience to their children on their way going to school as well as other household members on going to nearby stores in the area,” said the report.
The farm equipment and machinery are also being utilized by the members and non-members of the association and cooperatives during planting and harvesting season of palay on a “first come first served basis.” The members are collecting rental or service fees from the farmer members and non-members, which will be used for regular maintenance of the equipment and machinery.
However, some of the projects like the Shallow Tube Well (STW) received by the recipients are not yet utilized. The recipients explained that the STW will be utilized to supply water to palay fields when there is a shortage of water during the dry season.
The team also saw some concerns on the cross joint connected to one of the rotavator of the equipment. The recipient said that it was substandard so they always need to replace the part after every operation.
Some of the recipients were also forced to replace it with a bigger or heavy duty cross joint to avoid further damage and improve the performance of the equipment.
The PMT also revealed that the recipients should provide proper shedding to the equipment to maintain its efficiency and accuracy. Aside from this, about 38% of the recipients were not provided with training related to the operation of the equipment.
Meanwhile, the constructed FMR project in Brgy. Barihan is submerged in water including the houses of the residents in the area due to heavy rainfall brought about by recent typhoons, southwest monsoon or “ habagat “ and high tide. The area has been submerged in water for almost a year.
List of Projects Monitored
Malolos City
- Barangay Barihan LGU- Farm to Market Road
- Santor Irrigators Association- Shallow Tubewell
Calumpit
3. Sitio Pulo Farmers Association- Shallow Tube Well
4. Barangay Gugo LGU- Farm to Market Road
5. Barangay Puno LGU- Farm to Market Road
Plaridel
6. Parulan Halang Irrigators Association- Re-circulating Dryer
7. Parulan Halang Irrigators Association- Shallow Tube Well
San Rafael
8. Masicpi Irrigators Association- 4 Wheel Drive Hand Tractor
9. Masicpi Irrigators Association- Shallow Tube Well
10. Palayamanan sa San Rafael IA- Hand tractor with Trailer
11. Palayamanan sa San Rafael IA- Mini 4 Wheel Drive Tractor
12. Palayamanan sa San Rafael IA- Combine Harvester
13. Galas Maasim Palay and Vegetables- Re-Circulating Dryer
San Ildefonso
14. Bubulong Malaki Vegetable Growers Association- Combine Harvester
15. Barangay Sumandig LGU- Farm to Market Road
16. Barangay Gabihan LGU- Farm to Market Road
17. Batch 7 Credit Cooperative- Four Wheel Drive Tractor
18. Umpukan Farmers Association- Re-Circulating Dryer
19. Umpukan Farmers Association- Construction of Warehouse
20. Malipampang LGU- Farm to Market Road
Balagtas
21. Sanganda Irrigators Association- Shallow Tube Well
Pandi
22. Barangay Local Government of Cupang- Farm to Market Road
23. Masaganang Ani Farmers Association- Mini 4 Wheel Drive tractor
24. Barangay Local Government of Cacarung Matanda and Siling Bata Pinagcuertelan- Farm to Market Road
Baliwag
25. Samahang Magsasaka Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Barangay Hinukay- Shallow Tube Well
26. Bagong Pagasa Farmers Association- Hand Tractor with Trailer
The DA-Regional Field Office III, Local Government Units and other members of the AFCs will be provided with the copies of the monitoring reports for their information and appropriate action on the findings and recommendations.
Meanwhile, the team recommended that DA-RFO-3 should require the supplier the actual demonstration of the equipment to check the performance and efficiency including the compatibility of the parts and accessories of the farm equipment.
They also recommended that the supplier who provided substandard parts and accessories should be blacklisted.
On the other hand, the recipients should provide shed on the equipment to avoid its early deterioration, inefficiency and inaccuracy. This would require DA-RFO-3 to remind and ask the recipients to provide shed before the distribution of the equipment or the machinery.
The report also recommended timely distribution of the equipment to the recipients to maximize its utilization and should be supplied before the planting season of palay.
Monitoring activities are conducted not only to determine the status and recommend measures to enhance its implementation but also to institute corrective measures. | JB
