EVALUATION OF THE RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (07/01/77-08/01/77)

PROJ PURPOSE WAS TO CREATE INSTIT CAPABILITY TO FORMULATE,PLAN,MANAGE,MONITOR, AND EVALUATEINTEGRATED BICOL RIVER BASIN (BRB) DEVELOPMENT; ESTABLISH FEASIBILITY STUDIES & DATA BASE; AND IDENTIFY FUTURE PROGRAMS. EVALUATN BASED ON DOCUMENTS & INTERVIEWS. ALTHOUGH ALL STUDIES ARE NOT COMPLETED,PROJ IS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. EVALUATOR CONCLUDES BRBDP HAS ENJOYED SUCCESS DUE TO EARLY PLANNING,PUBLIC FUNDS,WELL-CHOSEN AGR PROJS,EFFECTIVE ASSIST PROGRAM OFFICE COOPERATN,AND COOPERATN AMONG AGENCIES. AN INTERAGENCY PLANNING APPARATUS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO SET TARGETS & COMPLETE PREFEASIBILITY & FEASIBILITY STUDIES ON COMPONENT PROJECTS. LOCAL PARTICIPATION AT ALL ADMIN LEVELS HAS BEEN ENCOURAGED IN DECISION MAKING. BRBDP OFFICE PROVIDED PLANNING CAPACITY TO TRANSLATE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISTRICT NEEDS INTO OPERATIONAL PROJS. USAID STAFF HAS ASSISTED SOCIAL SURVEY RESEARCH UNIT IN INSTIT OF PHILIPPINE CULTURE,CONDUCTED BASELINE & SPECIAL SURVEYS IN BRB,AND HAS UTILIZED PUBLISHED REPORTS TO DETERMINE PRIORITIES AND SUPPORT FUNDING PROPOSALS. ALSO,NUMEROUS PROJECT-RELATED STUDIES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED RELATING TO FUTURE PLANS,HEALTH,NUTRITN,FARMING,AND ECONOMICS. ALTHOUGH FUTURE POTENTIAL IS SUBSTANTIAL,GAINS ARE NOT EXPECTED BEFORE 1982 DUE TO NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS IN BRB"S IRRIGATN SYS. OTHER DELAYS HAVE RESULTED DUE TO SERIOUS ORGANIZATN PROBS IN FORMING SUB-REGIONAL ORGANIZATNS AND AREA-WIDE ACTIONS,INSTITUTED PROGRAMS WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED ON LOCAL LEVELS. EVALUATOR RECOMMENDS THAT: 1)LONG-TERM,LOW-KEY EFFORTS BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN LINE AGENCIES; 2)CONTRARY TO THE NEW AGRICULTURAL PLAN,PROGRAM OFFICE MAINTAIN ITS ADMIN ROLE (ORGANIZER,PLANNER,GAD-FLY,LOBBYIST,ETC),STAFF BE SLIGHTLY INCREASED & PROJ AREA NOT BE EXPANDED OUTSIDE OF BRB;3)OVERALL STUDY STRATEGIES BE ESTABLISHED; 4)AGR RESEARCH BE INCREASED; 5)CHIEF OFFICERS & STAFF MEET PERIODICALLY; 6)PROJ PREPARATN BE STRESSED; AND 6)PROGRAM OFFICE CONTINUE TO STIMULATE VILLAGES TO DEVEL LOCAL ACTIVITIES BY INVESTING THEIR OWN TIME AND MONEY.