The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office VIII held an Inception Workshop on the Impact Evaluation (IE) Study on the Fisheries, Coastal Resources and Livelihood (FishCORAL) project on 29-30 June 2023 at the NEDA VIII office, Government Center, Palo, Leyte. The activity was initiated by the technical evaluators and staff of NEDA VIII, led by Regional Director Meylene C. Rosales, with Mr. Ian Dave B. Custodio of the Visayas State University (VSU).
The workshop aimed to finalize the approach of the IE study and discuss the partnership between NEDA VIII and VSU in the study. Out of the workshop, the Inception Report was produced. Said report specifies the evaluation design, timeline of key deliverables, communication and policy advocacy plan, evaluation team composition, budget, and survey questionnaires, among others, for the study on the implementation of the FishCORAL project in Region VIII. The IE study aims to estimate the impact of the FishCORAL livelihood projects on the income of fishing households in the recipient coastal barangays. It also intends to determine the extent of women’s participation in the livelihood project, among others.
The FishCORAL project was a five-year (2016-2020) project co-financed by the Philippine Government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the concerned local government units. The Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) VIII was the executing agency. It aimed to reduce poverty in 11 Bays in Regions 5, 8 (Maqueda, Matarinao, Leyte Gulf, and Silago-Cabalian), CARAGA, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
NEDA VIII Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Atty. Jam M. Colas expressed her appreciation for the participation and active support of DA VIII-BFAR 8 and VSU in finalizing the impact evaluation methodological approach. Meanwhile, ARD Cylet Salvacion C. Lluz of the DA VIII-BFAR shared relevant data and information on the project implementation as implementing agency.
The IE study on the FishCORAL project was proposed by NEDA VIII and VSU. It was selected as one of the eight studies across the country that will be given a funding of PhP2 million under the NEDA and UNDP Philippines for CY 2023 Capacity Development Program on Impact Evaluation.
Article by: Meliza Y. Bacolbas (PMED)
Photos by: Mark G. Lomboy (PMED)
