BICOL SECONDARY AND FEEDER ROADS (7/17/78-7/20/78)

The purpose of the secondary and feeder roads project is to increase agricultural production, employment, commercial, and social development in the Bicol River Basin. Since the roads evaluation office is just beginning to collect baseline data, it is not possible at this time to cite evidence of progress toward purpose. Evaluation was conducted in the Bicol region from 7/17/78 to 7/20/78. Participants included USAID and host country personnel related to the Bicol River Basin Development Program. Visits were made to the 3 road subprojects under construction. Although almost 1 year behind the original schedule, the project is now being implemented in a timely fashion. Of 22 construction contracts to be let for the 14 subprojects, 10 have been awarded and notices to proceed have been issued to 8 contractors. Of these 8 activities, 3 are already under construction. USAID expects that all contracts will be awarded and notices to proceed issued by 12/31/78. The initial problems involved insufficient budgetary allocations and ineffective leadership within the Project Management Office (PMO) of the Ministry of Public Highways. The former problem resulted from a fiscal year changeover within the GOP. Both problems have been rectified. Project is incurring significantly increased costs (151%) due to upgraded design standards for individual roads and increased cost of cement. The PMO, however, anticipates no problem in obtaining adequate allocations for the GOP. Other problems identified include: The misuse of funds earmarked for maintenance, and difficulties in securing rights-of-way. These operational problems have not resulted in serious delays.