After 43 months of implementation, the Agriculture, Social
Support and Environment Facilities (ASSEF) Project officially
closed last September 14, 2009, with praises and appreciation
from Local government units (LGUs) and community stakeholders.
A
post-project external evaluation study, conducted by a research
team led by Susan Ortega, determined the degree of the
project’s accomplishments. It focused on five major concerns,
namely: (1) impact of the sub-projects on the beneficiaries; (2)
qualitative and quantitative accomplishments of the
sub-projects; (3) sustainability of the sub-projects; (4) LGU
management of the sub-projects; and (5) overall success
(failure) of the ASSEF Project.
The
Project Management Office (PMO) also conducted an internal
assessment workshop to assess the Project’s achievements and
impacts. The two activities differed in their methodology but
had similar positive conclusions on the results of the project.
Johann De la Rosa (center) facilitates the agriculture
infrastructure workshop group during the ASSEF Project
Assessment Workshop
Survey
findings showed that the Project contributed much in increasing
income among beneficiaries. The highest share came from on-farm
income, which was 71% of the total income differential from all
sources.
It also
increased agricultural productivity as the average yield of
pineapple, palay, corn and high value commercial crops rose by
23.75%, 7.66%, 6.6% and 16.6%, respectively. Also, it increased
areas planted to pineapple by 42.16% and palay by 11%.
Looking
into the environmental sector, garbage collection and sanitation
in the project areas improved with the implementation of solid
waste management projects. Some 74% decrease in the volume of
solid waste for final disposal was noted. Awareness on solid
waste segregation improved alongside the promotion of economic
and environmental benefits derived from recycled materials.
As to the
project’s objective of empowering and enhancing the technical
capabilities of officers and planners of the participating LGUs
in project development and management, this was adequately met.
The LGUs revealed that their proficiency in project proposal
preparation greatly improved. A total of eight LGUs made use of
their project development skills in seeking approval for
projects submitted to other funding agencies. Moreover, their
capability to prepare quality project proposals on their own
enabled them to save on consultant fees, which amount ranges
from P50,000 to P200,000.
As to
enabling the LGUs to uplift the socio-economic condition of
their communities through effective implementation of the
sub-projects, both the internal assessment and external
evaluation confirmed the achievement of this objective. This was
manifested by the renewed confidence expressed by the
beneficiaries on their respective LGUs capability to respond to
their needs.
A detailed
discussion on the impacts and benefits of the Project are
presented in the External Evaluation Report and Internal
Assessment Report.
The ASSEF
PMO presented the External Evaluation Report and the Video and
Photo Documentation (Executive Report) to the Project Steering
Committee last September 11, 2009. Copies will be provided to
the LGUs, DILG, PPDOs and AECID.
Adrian Sanosa of MAD Comm. Co. Ltd. captures video footage
of a pineapple grower in San Vicente, Camarines Norte for
the ASSEF Project Documentation activity
NEDA
Region 5, as the implementing agency, extends its gratitude to
the AECID, LGUs and stakeholders who cooperated and supported
the Project implementation.
