The NEDA Regional Office (NRO) VIII, with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank – Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (ADB-JFPR) under its Grant for Emergency Assistance and Early Recovery for Poor Municipalities Affected by Typhoon Yolanda, has recently conducted a three-day seminar-workshop on Project Preparation and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) from July 20-22, 2016 at the Felipina Hall, NEDA VIII, Palo, Leyte. The workshop aims to enhance the understanding of the NRO VIII staffs on the fundamentals of project preparation and development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) in support to the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES) and the Eastern Visayas Yolanda Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (EV-YRRP).

In his opening message, Dir. Bonifacio G. Uy stressed the significance of the training in capacitating the NRO VIII staffs to effectively execute one of NEDA’s core functions which is to monitor and evaluate the implementation of major programs and projects in the region. Over the years, the office has conducted several trainings on planning and investment appraisal but very limited for M&E. The said workshop will be an avenue for the conduct of more workshops on M&E.

During the training, the participants engaged into lectures and workshops on the following topics: a) Public sector management and project development; b) Results-based monitoring and evaluation; c) Logical framework approach; d) Ex-post monitoring and evaluation; e) Data collection and analysis; and, f) Mainstreaming RBME to RPMES.

A project visit to two (2) ongoing Yolanda social infrastructure and resettlement projects was also conducted on the third day to give the participants a closer and actual view on how a project monitoring and evaluation activity is undertaken.

The resource persons for the three-day activity were two (2) ADB M&E experts from the ADB-JFPR project team, Engr. Victoria Corpuz and Mr. Noriel Sicad. The said training was participated by twenty-five (25) NRO VIII staffs both from the technical and administrative divisions.

Mary Fretzie R. Basal, ORD, NEDA VIII