(Pagadian City)-With the challenging demand on the web application system in improving the monitoring and evaluation of Performance Challenge Fund (PCF)-assisted projects, the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region IX held training to provincial focal persons on July 16, 2014 at Pagadian City.

 

DILG Regional Director Paisal O. Abutazil said, in his opening remarks, that such activity would inform the field operating units on the PCF-funded projects presently implemented in their respective areas, applying the digital system in monitoring and evaluating the project status.

 

Likewise, Regional PCF Focal Person Elmer Egama said that the initiative would also orient the field officers from the provinces down to the municipalities relative to the latest guidelines issued through DILG Memorandum Circular no. 2013-148 on the implementation of the CY 2013 PCF.

Egama reported that for CY 2014, the issues and concerns gathered from the implementers and beneficiaries of the program showed that there were weak CSO participation, poor monitoring and reporting mechanism, lack of technical competency and the project implementation of the LGU as well as absence of some signages.

On the issue of funds, Egama clarified that each PCF subsidy shall be used for one (1) specific modular type of project only. The 2013 PCF subsidized projects must be implemented and completed by the recipient LGU within one (1) year from the date of receipt of the PCF Check” Egama added.

In the name of transparency, Egama emphasized that for infrastructure projects, local government unit (LGU) must provide a tarpaulin signboard at the project location and be posted as soon as the award has been made.

He also advised all field officers of PCF-covered LGUs to regularly submit update report on the status of LGU project implementation and to undertake a documentation of all completed LGU PCF-assisted projects in their respective area.

For his part, Information and Technology Officer Ard Catalino oriented the participants on the application system including managing user account, uploading LGU profile as well as project map application.

“This initiative will truly help in fast-tracking the submission of project proposal and hasten submission of reports related to physical and financial monitoring through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) on the PCF-assisted project site.” Catalino added.

The PCF is a performance-based reform program, an incentive to an eligible LGU in the form of a counterpart fund to finance high impact local development projects identified as priority by the LGU.