BAGUIO CITY, February 22, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA -SAAD) Program Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) trained its 16 development workers on project proposal preparation in Bauko, Mountain Province. 

Held from November 21 to 24, 2023, the training equipped community development officers of SAAD CAR with the necessary skills and knowledge to guide farmers in developing effective project proposals. These proposals can help farmers access much-needed funding or resources, empowering them to improve their farming practices, expand their operations, or implement innovative farming techniques. 

Susan Balanza, Chief of DA CAR Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Management and Evaluation Division, served as the resource person, who discussed a wide range of topics essential for successful project proposal preparation. 

Participants were introduced to the fundamental principles of project management, including project identification, problem analysis, goal setting, and stakeholder engagement. They also learned about the importance of conducting thorough needs assessments and feasibility studies to ensure the viability and sustainability of proposed projects.

Balanza also gave emphasis on the importance of clearly defining the project’s goal from the outset to ensure efficient resource allocation and highlighted that ambiguity in project aims can lead to difficulties in implementation.

Throughout the training, participants were exposed to various project proposal formats and templates, enabling them to develop clear and concise proposals that effectively communicate project objectives, activities, timelines, and expected outcomes. They were guided through the process of defining project scopes, setting realistic targets, and establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to measure project progress and impact.

“This training is basically a business plan in preparation for future enterprise development of our beneficiaries,” said Balanza. 

SAAD personnel are set to assist Farmer Cooperatives and Associations to prepare project proposals to be approved for project implementation in 2024. ###

Writer: Maria Elena G. Catajan, DA-SAAD CAR Information Officer