To monitor and evaluate the implementation of projects, the Department of Agriculture Caraga through the Special Projects Section conducted the Bottom Up Budgeting (BUB) and PAMANA Program Mid-Year Assessment and Coordination Meeting. The activity was conducted in two batches June 27 to 29 here in Butuan City.

Batch 1 was attended by representatives from the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Dinagat Islands. The second batch was comprised of representatives from Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur.

The activity served as a venue for updating the status of implementation of projects under the two programs and discussion of issues and strategies for the smooth implementation of the projects.

DA Regional Director Edna M. Mabeza, in her message, urged the participants to do everything to save the projects that can still be saved and beat the deadline in having the projects obligated and completed. She appealed to the LGU to complete all the required documents. “DA has always been transparent in implementing projects, however, there are things beyond control which sometimes factors also in the delay of the project implementation,” she said.

“These projects are for the benefit of the farmers and fisherfolk so let us do everything we can to ensure its completion. And we need your full support to achieve that,” she further said.

For 2013 to 2014, a total of 399 BUB projects which include Livelihood, Farm to Market Roads, Irrigation, Postharvest Facilities, and Fisheries were completed. For 2015, 2 BUB projects have been completed while 14 are still on-going. While for 2016, 34 BUB projects amounting to P35, 815, 184 were obligated.

On the other hand, PAMANA is the national government’s program and framework for peace and development and is implemented in areas affected by conflict and communities covered by existing peace agreements.

For PAMANA, of the 16 projects implemented in 2013, seven have been completed while nine are still on-going. For 2014, all four FMR projects have been completed. Of the 10 projects targeted for 2015, three are on-going while seven are still on the  pipeline. While for 2016, 16 projects are targeted and three are already obligated. (Vanessa P. Sanchez)