The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) XI, spearheaded by its Chairperson and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, CESO II, convened for its 4th Quarter CY 2020 Meeting through videoconference on December 2, 2020.

Having received the Terminal Report for the Impact Evaluation Study of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Davao Region conducted by the University of Southeastern Philippines, the RPMC XI discussed the impacts of the program to medium-term outcome indicators particularly on (i) mother’s access to maternal care, (ii) children’s health and access to basic health services, (iii) children’s enrolment, participation and dropout rates, (iv) incidence of child labor and children’s time spent for work,(v) household spending, (vi) employment of adult beneficiaries, and (vii) parent’s outlook to their children’s future. Given the findings of the said study, the Committee shall generate recommendations to improve the implementation of the 4Ps in the Region to be endorsed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Field Office XI.

Moreover, the Committee discussed the issue on poor performing contractors in project implementation in the Region. From the Secretariat’s report on the RPMC XI 3rd Quarter CY 2020 Project Desk Monitoring, 31 projects amounting to PhP 2.31 billion were found to be encountering implementation problems due to poor performance of contractors brought about by lack or insufficient manpower, equipment and/or materials onsite. This resulted an issue raised by the Committee questioning the validity of the post-qualification process conducted by Procuring Entities to determine whether winning bidders comply with and are responsive to all requirements per Republic Act 9184 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations. To address said issue, the Committee have sought explanations and justifications from implementing agencies of these projects.

In addition, the Committee also took note of the recurring observations on the non-compliance of implementing agencies and contractors on the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) by workers during the current 4th Quarter Online Project Validation and previous online and onsite project field visits. Per Republic Act 11058 (Act Strengthening Compliance with occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof), employers should provide workers, free of charge, protective equipment for hazardous work process or in environments capable of causing injury or impairment. Given this, the Committee called the attention of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XI to strictly monitor the implementation of Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) by project implementing agencies and their contractors as well as, to impose corresponding sanctions for non-compliance including the blacklisting of non-compliant contractors.
Also covered in the meeting was the Committee’s approval of the 2021 Annual Monitoring Plan adopting the classification of infrastructure programs and projects in line with NEDA’s initiative to improve allocation of infrastructure investments among regions towards achieving a more equitable regional distribution.

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Francesca Dianne B. Solis, Sr. EDS, NEDA XI