ACCELERATING PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES : A GENERAL EVALUATION OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROJECT, 1968-1970

Project undertaken to help provincial governments do better job in planning/executing programs in agriculture, infrastructure/public works & financial development priority areas. Team assessed PDAP headquarters operations & status of dvlp programs in 8 PDAP-pilot provinces. Varying levels of achievement observed in provinces; most progress evident in public works/equipment area due largely to USAID assistance in US surplus acquisitions. Agricultural efforts beset by shortage of field technicians & lack of coordination efforts with national/provincial agricultural authorities. Financial area most deficient with great need to improve provincial budgeting & implement/enforce real property tax assessment/collections, thereby increasing revenue. Evaluators emphasize that strong commitment of provincial governors critical to project success. Provincial Dvlp Councils, previously unwieldy & inactive, must be streamlined. Dvlp Staffs require PDAP training & full-time directors to develop/manage quality programs. Integrated comprehensive approaches based on feasibility assessment must replace hastily-conceived, narrow action programs. Team judges PDAP headquarters emphasis on pilot province operations wise, but faults PDAP for not fully utilizing staff/resources, particularly in training/research. Evaluators call for more dynamic/concerted approach. Recommendations include: 1) PDAP Planning/Coordinating Committee should be converted into Exec Committee to meet monthly & act as strong policy arm; 2) National Econ Council (NEC) Chairman should no longer serve as Project Director; rather NEC rep should be appointed director & full-time deputy director should oversee operations/supervise staff; 3) Deputy director should develop 12-18 month action program with specific targets; 4) Organizational units should be created to offer field expertise in consultation/training/policy research; 5) Ongoing activities should be replaced by one-year coop agreements with provinces; prior surveys; target objectives.