Palo, Leyte – The Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII-Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) convened for its 1st Quarter 2018 Meeting on 13 March 2018 at NEDA VIII, Palo, Leyte. The meeting provided a venue to discuss issues and concerns affecting implementation of critical programs and projects in the region in order to come up with solutions and/or recommendations to solve problems.

During the meeting, the Committee passed several resolutions recommending to the Regional Development Council VIII the following: 1) Requesting assistance of the Secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process to provide appropriate interventions on delayed Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) projects in Samar and Northern Samar as indicated by high negative slippages; 2) Requesting the DPWH Secretary to issue a memorandum requiring project contractors to put up station markers in ongoing projects and to impose penalties for those who fail to comply; and 3) Requesting the National Housing Authority VIII to fast-track the completion of the Yolanda permanent resettlement project in Brgy. Anislag, Isabel, Leyte.

The Committee also endorsed several initiatives aimed at improving monitoring and evaluation of projects in the region, namely: 1) crafting of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with five (5) private organizations and selected state universities and colleges in the region to join field monitoring activities of the Committee; and 2) adoption of the build back better monitoring form/checklist for vertical structures initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government VIII.

Present in the meeting were 17 regular members of the Committee, 13 guests and resource persons from concerned implementing agencies, and four (4) representatives from the Community of Yolanda Survivors and Partners (CYSP).

Mary Fretzie R. Basal, PMED, NEDA VIII