SDS-074
Conduct of the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) Baseline Survey
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the World Bank aim toassist the Philippine Government in its efforts to reduce poverty and achievesustained economic growth with the implementation of the Philippine RuralDevelopment Program (PRDP), a modern and climate-smart agriculture and fisheryinvolving eighty (80) Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs), agri-fisherystakeholders, rural communities and private sector enterprise groups across 16regions of the country. PRDP's goals of improved food security and increasedincomes, climate resiliency and enabling environment and good governance arealigned with the priorities set in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP)2011-2016.
PRDP aims to increase rural incomes and enhance farm andfishery productivity by promoting a more inclusive rural development;supporting changes in the planning, resource programming and implementationpractices of DA; and by financing local investment and strategic network ofinfrastructures.
The PRDP involves the implementation of four components,namely:
Component 1: Investment for AFMP Planning at the Local andNational Levels (I-PLAN) - involves refining, harmonizing and mainstreamingAFMP planning at the national and local levels.
Component 2: Intensified Build-up of Infrastructure andLogistics for Development (I-BUILD) - a menu of rural infrastructuresidentified in the AFMPs that will link priority value chains in the programareas that include farm-to-market roads, bridges, communal irrigation systems(CIS), potable water systems (PWS), production and post-production facilities,amongst others.
Component 3: Investment for Rural Enterprises andAgri-Fishery Productivity (I-REAP)-involves the provision of sustainableagricultural, livestock and fishery-based entrepreneurial subprojects as pervalue chain analysis results; strengthening public-private partnerships invalue-adding activities and market linkages; and improving LGU's access toinformation, support and technologies in all aspects of the value chain.
Component 4: Support to Program Implementation (I-SUPPORT) -involves strategies for a more responsive, effective, efficient, sustainable,and impact-oriented (REESI) administrative support system which are built onfrom MRDP 2 proven practices.
The main objective of the baseline study is to providereliable baseline information for PRDP, which will be utilized as the basis formeasuring significant changes over time brought about by the project and itsfour components. Specifically, the baseline data will describe conditions inthe program areas and intends to determine success or effectiveness of PRDP bycomparing conditions before and after and how PRDP contributes to theseoutcomes.
1) Stratified Random Sampling Survey which involved theconduct of a survey of randomly selected 5,000 respondents (farmers, fisherfolks, livestock producers, agri-entrepreneurs) in 40 provinces in the threeisland groups (Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao). The HHS was the primary datagathering method that was used to describe current household conditions whichinclude household income; value of marketed outputs; access to post-harvestfacilities and services; and awareness, access and adaption of climate-smarttechnologies, among others.
2) Development of a database of survey results that involvesthe formulation of a data entry program for both qualitative and quantitativestudies. The said database include baseline information on road networks; andfarmers and fishers' road access to market center
3) Collected and reviewed secondary data from the Departmentof Agriculture, local government units, other national agencies, ODA fundedprojects, among others that described or facilitated description of theexisting situation of the PRDP indicators.
4) Carried out qualitative study that gathered qualitativedata through focus group discussions (FGD) and key informants interviews (KII).The FGD was designed to collect opinions and views relative to the targetperformance indicators stipulated in the PRDP Results Framework and Monitoring.In addition, the FGD offered qualitative descriptions of program areasituations as well as the current planning, programming and budgeting processesof DA at the Central Office and RFOs and other agencies involved in thedelivery of agriculture services; and the current DA efforts at harmonizationand mainstreaming of the Operation Manuals for National and Local AFMPPlanning, Rural Infrastructure Development and Enterprise Development, amongothers.
A total of 24 FGD sessions were conducted, one at the DAcentral office (CO) level and 15 at the regional field office (RFO) level, andeight (8) at the community level. While, KII's focus was on EnterpriseDevelopment, Program Support and commodity value chains. Interviews among keyinformants were conducted on three levels--the national, regional andprovincial levels. At the national level, informants were key people involvedwith the PRDP and MRDP 2 in various capacities--either as planner/decision maker,project manager, M & E specialist, and/or key stakeholder. At the regionallevel, included respondents were the Regional Executive Directors, RPCODirectors, representatives from DA Planning and Monitoring division,agribusiness marketing assistance, commodity coordinators; and representativesfrom the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and state universities andcolleges (SUCs). At the provincial level, key informants were representativesfrom the various offices of the local government units such as the Committee onAgriculture and Natural Resources, Provincial Agriculture and FisheriesCouncil, Provincial Agriculturists, Provincial Veterinarians, CDA provincialhead or representative; and representatives from the Provincial Cooperative andEconomic Development Office (PCEDO) and chamber of commerce. Moreover,informants interviewed for the CVC of identified commodities were womenrepresentatives, producers or suppliers; assemblers; processors; marketers; andexporters. Around 300 informants were interviewed.