PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROJECT (02/01/74 TO 02/26/74)

THE PROVINCIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROJECT (PDAP) WAS TO STRENGHTEN THE ABILITY OF 28 SELECTED PROVINCIAL GOVERMENTS TO RECOGNIZE AND EFFECTIVELY RESPOND TO THEIR IND IVIDUAL NEEDS. EVALUATION IS AN IN-DEPTH STUDY BASED ON EXTENSIVE FIELD TRIPS TO PARTCIPATING PROVINCES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH USAID,PDAP,AND PROVINCIAL OFFICIALS. EVALUATOR FEELS PDAP IS A SMOOTH,WELL-OPERATING PROJECT, WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF DEDICATION AND LOYALTY AMONG ITS MEMBERS AND GOOD,PROFESSIONALLY CONSTRUCTIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN US AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. NO PDAP GOVERNOR WAS DEFEATED IN THE 1971 ELECTIONS AND ALL SUCH GOVERNORS ASCRIBED THE RESULTS TO PDAP"S POPULARITY WITH THE PEOPLE. THE DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN CREATED TO ESTABLISH IMPROVED ADMINASTRATIVE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES IN NON-PDAP PROVINCES. EDUCATION LEVELS ARE HIGH AND CITIZENS,AS WELL AS THE 18 PRESENT PDAP PROVINCIAL COORDINATORS, HAVE MADE EXTENSIVE US E OF AVAILABLE TRAINING. ADMINISTRATIVE TRAINING ONCE CONDUCTED IN US IS NOW HANDLED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILLIPPINES. INFO EXCHANGE BETWEEN GOVERNORS & THE GOP"S EXECUTV SECRETARY HAS BEEN GOOD W/ GOVENORS HAVING A SOUND UNDERSTANDING OF THE BEST WAYS TO ACQUIRE PROJECT FUNDS LOCALLY. ALTHOUGH NOT USUALLY THE CASE WITH AID PROGRAMS,INVESTING IN EXCESS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL SINCE EQUIPMENT IS USED AND WELL MAINTAINED. AS PROJECT HAS PROGRESSED IT HAS BROUHGT ABOUT A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING, WITH APPLIANCES,AIR-CONDITIONED BUILDINGS,BETTER ROADS; ETC,BECOMING A WAY OF LIFE. THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE RESULTED IN BETTER HEALTH WITH MORE PEOPLE USING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND NEW ROADS TO VISIT CLINICS AND MARKETS. DIFFICULTIES IN INITIALLY DEVELOPING PROVINCIAL POLICY RESULTED SINCE POLICY IN THE GOP IS FORMED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND DOES NOT CONSIDER THE UNIQUE PROVINCIAL PROBLEMS. MANY PROVINCES HAVE ADEQUATE LEADERSHIP TO ADMINISTER PDAP ALONE. ONLY RECOMMENDATION IS TO BETTER DEFINE PDAP"S US COUNSELING NEEDS.