CALABARZON, March 30, 2023 – A common practice in the CALABARZON Region, as a new addition to the Department of Agricultural – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2, implementers received training on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) with the goal of providing key tools and basic principles on community organizing.

Held at Organic R&D Conference Hall, Brgy. Marauoy, Lipa City, the two-day training from February 15-16, 2023 was headed by Mr. Wilmer S. Faylon, Assistant Regional SAAD Focal Person. Thirty-three (33) SAAD implementers from the Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO), and Provincial Program Management Office (PPMSO) of Quezon and Batangas, as well as representatives from the Research and Development Division, Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), and Office of Provincial  (OPA) of Batangas and Quezon attended the workshop.

Said activity is a crucial part of the social preparation component of the program implementation, aimed at making the planning process more efficient, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the beneficiaries. It is an interdisciplinary approach that primarily fosters the sharing of livelihood experiences and life conditions among key participants in a community-specific setting. In this aspect, factors affecting the realities on the ground are extracted and later used for planning development projects that are responsive to the beneficiaries’ needs.  

Regional implementers on PRA workshop

In his introductory address, Mr. Faylon, stressed  the importance of PRA in determining the appropriate assistance for the beneficiaries of SAAD Phase 2. “Sa pamamagitan ng PRA, magkakaroon ng maayos na koordinasyon at ugnayan sa pagitan ng mga benepisyaryo, stakeholders, at mga tagapagpatupad ng proyekto.” (Through PRA, there will be proper coordination and relationships between beneficiaries, stakeholders, and project implementers,) said  Mr. Faylon.

A team of PRA experts steered the discussions where topics were divided among resource persons. For starters, Agro-Ecosystem Mapping concept and relevance to the study were introduced by Mr. John Carlo P. Narvacan, Science Research Technician. Further, Ms. Elizabeth R. Gregorio, Senior Science Research Specialist, focused on Timeline and Trend Analysis  while Mr. Girsky V. Anda, Science Research Specialist (SRS I) discussed Cost and Return, Resource Flow, Seasonal Calendar and Institutional Diagram. 

The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT)  analysis and Problem Identification Analysis  were discussed by Ms. Daisynette D. Manalo , Senior Science Research Specialist,  while  Threats, Opportunities, Weaknesses and Strengths (TOWS)  Matrix and Action Planning were discussed by Mr. Faylon. 

Using the knowledge acquired from the lecture, a PRA simulation was conducted where Batangas and Quezon cluster participants were enacted as settlers and facilitators.  Through this, the implementers were able to experience the dynamics of PRA. Engaged and active during the workshop, the activity concluded with an open forum and sharing of knowledge. 

SAAD CALABARZON will begin conducting PRA in the second quarter of the year. The program looks forward to strengthening the collaboration between the community and promoting grassroots development of target municipalities.###

Writers: Nicole C. Zarsuelo, DA-SAAD CALABARZON Information Officer, Pamela Faith M. Garcia, DA-SAAD CALABARZON Information Officer