The DENR CALABARZON through its Human Resources and Development Section conducted a Learning Event on Undertaking Project Impact Assessment last March 22-23, 2022 at El Cielito Hotel, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

  With hopes of equipping the participants with the necessary skills to perform duties and responsibilities as planning officers and project evaluation officers of the Regional and Field Offices of DENR CALABARZON, for better projec planning and management.

Project Impact Assessment is an evaluation that intends to attribute outcomes and impacts to project operations.

DENR CALABARZON Assistant Director for Management Services Ronita A. Unlayao said “Kailangan nating palalimin ang ating pagtingin pagdating sa ano ba ang silbi ng ating ginagawa. We should go beyond results-based monitoring, more than the outcome ay kailangan nating tingnan ang impact ng ating ginagawa sa buhay ng ating stakeholders.”

Unlayao also emphasized the importance of benchmarking, to compare the social, economic, and environmental impact of the project after it has been implemented. “Ang improvement sa kabuhayan ng ating stakeholders ay paano ba natin ma-a-attribute sa ating programa? ‘Yong baseline data natin ay importante para masukat ano ba ang pagkakaiba sa kanilang kabuhayan, sa ating forest cover, sa dami ng wildlife species matapos natin isagawa ang ating proyekto”, she said.

Meanwhile, DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo B. Tamoria reiterated the weight of responsibilities that the DENR bears in implementing programs towards behavioral change. “Malawak ang ating saklaw mula sa tuktok ng bundok hanggang sa kailaliman ng dagat at kalakip nito ang mabigat na responsibilidad natin sa pagpapatupad ng isang epektibong programa at proyekto. Beyond those data and the changes, tingin ko isang mahalagang sukatin natin ang impact ng ating proyekto sa pagbabago ng gawi ng ating komunidad”, Tamoria said. 

The Agency, through the Planning and Management Division annually prepares and updates three-year forward plans detailing the proposed activities and needed budget and resources for the Departments programs and projects. RED Tamoria recognized the role of impact assessment for the management to make informed-decisions. He shared “Malaking bagay ang naging impact ng mga proyekto noong mga nakaraang taon at sa kasalukuyan para sa pagkokonsidera sa kung ano ang mga susunod na ihahanay o ilalatag na intervention, initiative and project ng ating ahensya.

On the other hand, climate change remains to be one of the top priority programs of DENR needing urgent action. RED Tamoria reminded the participants to be mindful of the changes brought about by the changing climate in project impact assessment. “Malaking bagay ang dapat ikonsidera, hindi lamang sa pagbabago ng pamumuhay ng ating clientele na pinaglilingkuran, kundi mas mahalaga ang impact nito sa ating kapaligiran at kalikasan lalong lalo na po at hinaharap natin ang  hamon ng pagbabago ng klima. Sa mabilis na rate ng pagbabago ng ating klima ay baka hindi makahabol ang ating mga interventions. Kaya dapat ang inaaddress natin ay hindi lamang sa pangkasalukuyan na sitwasyon kundi para sa mga haharapin ng mga susunod pang henerasyon”, Tamoria said.

The two-day training involved discussions on the definition of terms, scope and timing, framework, criteria, methodology, and report format for Project Impact Assessment which were facilitated by Mr. Juan B. Ebora, Information Officer V and Chief of the Technology Transfer Division of the DENR Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB). His discussion was followed by a presentation of Ms. Mylene Aparente, also from the TTD of ERDB, on a sample project impact assessment implemented by their office.

After the learning event, the participants presented their project impact assessment tools on their specified projects which were critiqued by ARDMS Ronita Unlayao and In-Charge of the Planning and Management Division Cynthia N. Rozaldo. These will serve as initial tools for further improvement which could be utilized in project impact assessments in the Region. ###

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Parent Category: News & Events
Category: Press Releases
Published: 06 April 2022