1st IFAD mission embarks on NMCIREMP areas

The first International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) direct supervision to the Northern Mindanao Community Initiatives and Resource Management Project (NMCIREMP) held in Butuan City.

 

In line with this, the NMCIREMP Project Facilitation Office (PFO) facilitated the line-up activities from Feb.26 to March 07 highlighting what the project has accomplished in its fifth years of existence. Project site visits, fieldwork, workshop and meetings with relevant partners and staff highlighted the ten- day event.

 

 

Two teams were form for the project visits across 43 municipalities within Caraga and Northern Mindanao Region to fast pace the evaluation activities. Every Team composes of the IFAD Consultants, Project Key Officers, and Support Staff.

 

Dr. Anura Herath, Knowledge Management Officer, IFAD Sri Lanka); Ms. Mary Ann Bontengan, External Consultant and Ms. Susan Perez, DAR FAPSO Desk Officer included Dir. Antonio Menor, Project Director; Mr. Alejandro Delos Santos, Finance Officer; Mr. Virgilio Soliman, Geodetic Engr.; Mr. Raul Itong, NRM Specialist; Mr. Paul Flaviano and Manny Quinga, Support Staffs compose the Team A.

 

On the other hand, Mr. Yolando Arban, Knowledge Management Officer, IFAD Philippines; Ms. Violeta Corpus and Ms. Gemma Agagas, NEDA Representatives, headed the Team B. Among them were Ms. Virginia Verora, Chief of Operations; Mr. Edgardo Soriano, OIC-M&E officer; Mr. Dominador Gomez, IP Specialist; Ms. Elena Pontevedra, Community Development Officer; Mr. Isidro Lagahit, Fishery Specialist and Ms. Laarni Escoña, Support Staff.

 

The project partners from Local Government Units (LGUs) and Resource NGOs and beneficiaries, project staff as well as the relevant agencies working with the project such as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) assisted the said event.

 

 

On the first day of IFAD supervision mission, the 26^th of Feb. 2008, a kick-off meeting was held at Almont’s Hotel Inland Resort. Key persons presented project updates and status of accomplishments. Other activities included a meeting with Component Specialist, which happened on the 27^th at the Project Facilitation Office (PFO) Conference room. The meeting set a probable journey across the plotted areas to visit.

 

 

On the 28^th, Team A set off to FMR Sub-project and PAF Subproject at Brgy. Minalwang, Claveria, Misamis Oriental. The team conducted a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on CADT (Certificate on Ancestral Domain Titled) conversion process with Higaonon Community Members and meeting of Project Management and Fund Utilization with Municipal Project Office (MPO) Claveria.

 

On the other hand, Team B visited Brgy. Dumarait, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental. The team also conducted FGD with community members. Following the site visit and group discussion, the team had a meeting with MPO Balingasag.

 

Just after sundown, both teams had a dinner meeting with PPCO Misamis Oriental. Along with the activity is the presentation of Provincial Project Coordinating Office (PPCO) Annual Accomplishment held at Chali, Cagayan de Oro City. LGU, MPO and PPCO participates the activity.

 

Following that day, Team A hit the road for municipality of Binuangan, Misamis Oriental where the team also conducted FGD with community members of Brgy. Kitamban. After lunch break, the team met with MPO Binuangan. Meanwhile, the other team conducted an update meeting with AIMS at Butuan City. After Lunch break; Team B had gone their way to Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur where they had a meeting with MPO Prosperidad. The meeting focuses on the Project Management and Funds Utilization of the Municipality.

 

 

On March 1, both teams visited the municipality of Prosperidad and San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. Team A facilitated the group discussion with community members at Sta. Fe and Azpetia. The discussion focuses on the location of the Natural Resource Management (NRM) Learning Site on Rubber-based Farming system, PAF-Cassava production, chips processing and Water system for Azpetia. Team B conducted its group discussion at San Pedro, Prosperidad where the team discussed on Installation of Participatory MIS (Management Information System), Infra-Day Care Center and PAF-Hog Fattening. Both teams conducted FGD with Tribal leaders at Patin-ay where they discussed the Coalition Building process in the Manobo tribes. PPCO annual accomplishment presents their annual accomplishment along with the dinner meeting.

 

 

 

Team A conducted a FGD with PTA, O&M and Community members in Mararag, Marihatag, Agusan del Sur on the 2^nd date of March. The discussion focused on the Infra-School building of the barangay. Following them the team B who also conducted a FGD with the community members of Brgy. Mararag. The team continued its activity on the afternoon with the community of Cabugo, Bayabas. Other activities of the Team A included a meeting with MPO Marihatag at Tree Park, Marihatag.

 

 

On March 03, Team A went to the municipality of Cortes, Tandag and Oasis, Carrascal, Surigao del Sur. Among the activities of the Team was the group discussion with community members of Buenavista, Tandag, Cabugo and Cortes that the group discussed the NRM- Marine Protected Area while the Team B reached the municipality of Lanuza, Surigao del Sur and conducted a FGD on ADSDPP Formulation and Integration with the Tribal Community of Pakwan. Later in the afternoon, the team met with the MPO Lanuza of the Project Management and then both teams proceeded to Oasis, Carrascal for a dinner meeting and presentation of Annual Accomplishment of the PPCO.

 

March 04, 2008, On this day Team A had a FGD with the tribal Community of Magsaysay, Madrid, Surigao del Sur, while Team B also conducted a FGD with the community of San Vicente,Carmen, Surigao del Sur. Group discussion of each team to the community members focus on NRM-Organic Rice Farming.

 

 

Team A and B conducted a consultative meeting with NEDA, BAC, Audit/COA, NCIP and DAR on March 05 at Almont Hotel’s Inland Resort, Butuan City.Different representatives of each agency participates the half-day activity.

 

A workshop on stakeholders concluded the direct mission. Several representatives from partner agencies, LCOV, SHGs, CI, Tribal leaders, PPCO and MPOs from Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur participates the event.