Department of Agriculture - Ilocos Region

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| Settling the 'dust' on the road: How the provincial government of Ilocos Norte resolved issues in PRDP-funded initiatives

Settling the dust on the road was a literal challenge for the provincial government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) during the early stages of their very first PRDP-approved subproject—the rehabilitation of the Billoca-San Juan Farm-to-Market Road and eight bridges in Batac City.

“Kasi nung sinimulan na talaga iyong pag-implement ng rehab ng aming FMR dito, maalikabok,” Mr. Hustler A. Garalde said, the PPMIU Social and Environmental Safeguards Unit Head. (As soon as the rehabilitation work on our FMR began, the dust became a big issue.)

During construction, residents passing near the site were affected, particularly on their way to the central business district.

“Kapag umaga kasi, yan iyong mga time na magiging busy ang mga tao. Iyong pagpasok ng mga estudyante, papapasok sa opisina, at magtatrabaho, kaya we did the sprinkling para hindi maalikabok,” Mr. Garalde explained. “Morning, lunchtime, and hapon. We do it three times.”

(Morning is the busiest time when people are heading out to work or school, so we implemented sprinkling to reduce the dust. We did this three times a day—morning, lunchtime, and in the afternoon.)

In addition to the dust, waste management became a concern. Residents were discarding garbage near the site.

“Naglagay kami ng mga placard, at tsaka mga trash bins doon sa area, para iyong mga tao ay aware na hindi pwedeng magtapon-tapon na lang kung saan-saan sila kasi magiging problema natin yan lalo na at may malapit kaming ilog doon,” Mr. Garalde continued. “Hindi lang naman sa i-isang lugar kundi along the streets of the project ay may mga signages tayo to remind them regarding sa waste management. “

(We put up placards and trash bins in the area to raise awareness that dumping trash randomly wasn’t acceptable, especially since we’re close to a river. We also placed signage along the project streets to remind everyone about waste management.)

Mr. Garalde emphasized that the provincial government was committed to ensuring the welfare of the people, for they are part of the project.

The Php 186.4M, completed in 2020, has since benefited more than 6,000 residents and farmers.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹

Engaging local communities in a project is important.

“Dito dapat tinitingnan ang kapakanan ng mga tao,” Mr. Garalde said. “Dapat ang project ay acceptable sa kanila. Kasi kapag hindi, hindi magiging effective iyan or hindi magiging successful.” (Here, we must prioritize the well-being of the people. The project must be acceptable to them. If it's not, it won’t be effective or successful.)

This perspective guided the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte as they implemented other subprojects under the Philippine Rural Development Project.

“Once na niyakap ng tao ang project, sigurado iyan 100% magiging successful. Hindi lang ngayon, kundi in the future,” Mr. Garalde added. (Once the community embraces the project, it’s bound to be 100% successful—not only now, but in the future.)

Including the aforementioned FMR subproject, the LGU completed four other subprojects—all of which are fully operational and serving their intended beneficiaries.

To address grievances, the LGU created a team composed of personnel from the barangay, municipal/city, and provincial offices.

“Kung may mga hindi pagkakaunawaan. Doon mismo ay naaddress na ang mga concerns,” Garalde shared. “As much as possible, hindi na namin iyan pinapataas.” (When misunderstandings arise, we address them on the spot. As much as possible, we don’t want to elevate it anymore.)

At the barangay level, barangay tanods were assigned to oversee the safety of workers at the project site. “Kung walang traffic lights at kuryente, andun sila na nakaduty,” Mr. Garalde said. “Iyong mga dumadaan noon kasi, pinagtitripan ang mga trabahador ng contractor.”

(When there were no traffic lights or the electric supply was down, they were on duty. There were incidents when passersby harassed the contractor’s workers.)

In another setting, social media became a platform for project complaints. “Amum met ti tao nu mamingsan ket ipost da lang ladta kayat da nu anya ladta kunadan, sunga nagpameeting kami kanyadan within the local, and iyong mga concerned,” Mr. Garalde explained. “Kasi, natrace mi met idi dijay nu sino dijay nagpost isunga nakasarita mi idi. And then inikat da metlaeng.”

(People sometimes post their concerns online without understanding the situation, so we held meetings with the locals and the concerned parties. We traced the posts and spoke directly with those involved. They took down the post afterwards.)

Community cooperation has also made land acquisition for the project easier.

“Sa ibang mga areas, pinakita namin sa kanila kung gaano kahalaga ang proyekto under the PRDP. Kung ano ang magiging implikasyon nito, hindi lang sa present generation kundi sa future din. Tumatak sa kanila kung paano sila mabebenepisyaran ng project na ito,” Mr. Garalde said. “So sa mga areas na iyon, wala ng nagpacompensate sa amin. We are very thankful kasi cooperative naman iyong mga tao.”

(In other areas, we explained the importance of the PRDP subproject and its long-term impact—not only for the present generation but for future ones as well. They understood how they would benefit from the project. So, in those areas, no compensation was required. We are very thankful for the cooperation of the people.)

In some cases, the acquired land was deducted from the beneficiaries’ tax obligations. Meetings were conducted to ensure the process was transparent, and new tax declarations were issued to reflect the land deductions.

“We ensure na talagang nasusunod at talagang nakikita din ng mga tao iyong para sa kanila ay para talaga sa kanila,” Mr. Garalde shared. “Minimal areas lang naman ang nakuhang lote. Mga 5-10 square meters. Dineduct doon sa babayaran nila.”

(We made sure that the process was clear and that the people could see that what was intended for them was really for them. Only small portions of land were taken—about 5 to 10 square meters. These were deducted from their taxes.)

To further encourage participation, the LGU provided beneficiaries with farm interventions and planting materials.

“Kaya sinasabi namin sa kanila na, talaga, itong project na ito ay hindi para sa amin, kundi para sa tao,” Mr. Garalde added. (We tell them that this project isn’t for us—but for them.)

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Project implementers under the PRDP must ensure full compliance with the regulations of agencies beyond the Department of Agriculture, such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In line with DENR regulations, any tree cutting for a project requires a commitment to reforestation, with replacement seedlings planted at a ratio of 1:100 for every tree removed.

The LGU adhered strictly to this requirement, as several trees were affected during the project’s implementation. “We see to it that the administrative order of DENR is complied with. May mga plantations kaming naestablish in replacement sa mga naputol na mga kahoy doon sa area,” Mr. Garalde said. (We established plantations to replace the trees that were cut in the area.)

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Under PRDP, the responsibility for maintaining the completed subprojects lies with the proponent group.

In the FMR project, the LGU prioritized the safety of the public.

“Nag-establish kami at nagconstruct ng mga solar street lights. With that, iyong project natin kahit gabi para kang dumadaan sa expressway. Napakaliwanag ng ating daan,” Mr. Garalde said. (We established and constructed solar-powered street lights. With that, the project ensures that even at night, the road feels like you’re driving on an expressway. It’s brightly lit.)

At the barangay level, local officials who benefit from the FMR have passed ordinances regarding the project’s maintenance.

“May mga naipasa na silang mga ordinances na dapat monthly or quarterly ginagawa ang maintenance o paglilinis doon sa area,” he added.

(They’ve passed ordinances stating that the maintenance and cleaning in the area must be carried out monthly or quarterly.)

Currently, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte has five completed PRDP subprojects in its portfolio, totaling Php 226.9M.

The LGU is committed to continuously improve their safeguard practices using their lessons learned to protect the local community and the environment.

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