End of Commitment Report – Increasing Access to Participation in Monitoring Infrastructure Projects at the Barangay Level

Name of Evaluator

Krystianne Paul Andree de Pedro

Email

[email protected]

Member Name

South Cotabato, Philippines

Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... Title

Action plan – South Cotabato, Philippines, 2022 – 2025

CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action...

Increasing Access to Participation in Monitoring Infrastructure Projects at the Barangay Level

Title

Increasing Access to Participation in Monitoring Infrastructure Projects at the Barangay Level

Action

The commitment involves inviting CSO members of the organized People’s Councils from the different component LGUs of the province on the different aspects of procurement and eventual implementation.The commitment also aims to enhance the monitoring process and strengthen public engagement or the involvement of directly impacted communities at the barangay level by complying with DILG MC 2020-070.

Problem

The Provincial Project Monitoring Committee (PPMC) of the provincial government, composed of members from the provincial government and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), conducts quarterly monitoring of infrastructure projects with more than -15% slippage as per Program Evaluation and Review Technique – Critical Path Method (PERT-CPM). Thus, monitoring of these projects should be regular, efficient, transparent, and participatory.

1.1 What was the overall level of progress in the commitment implementation at the time of this assessment?

complete

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The activity was implemented last March 18-20, 2025. As of the time of writing, it is considered completed.

1.2 Describe the main external or internal factors that impacted implementation of this commitment and how they were addressed (or not).

The circular was intended for Barangay (i.e., Community) Officials including the Sangguniang Kabataan (or SK–the YouthRecognizing that investing in youth means investing in a better future, OGP participating governments are creating meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in government processes. Technical ... More Council), Civil Society Organizations, and Heads of Elementary Schools in the barangays. However, it was observed that participants were mostly teachers and some barangay officials.

1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?

most of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

Although only a few of the intended participants were present, the coverage of the activity went over and beyond the stated milestone. Instead of just covering the salient points of the circular, an additional detailed presentation on Monitoring and Evaluation basics was provided to the prospective members of the BPMEC (Barangay Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee) on how to conduct thorough monitoring of infrastructure projects in their respective communities.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Merged Presentations_Open Monitoring and Evaluation_March-2025

2.1.1. – Did the government disclose more information; improve the quality of the information (new or existing); improve the value of the information; improve the channels to disclose or request information or improve accessibility to information?

Yes

Degree of result:

Marginal

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

Although the circular was released in 2021, none of the participants appeared to be aware of its existence prior to the activity. Therefore, it can be said that more information was disclosed. It also improved the value of the information presented by augmenting it with the appropriate procedural guidelines on the topic of monitoring and evaluation.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Merged Presentations_Open Monitoring and Evaluation_March 2025

2.1.2. – Did the government create new opportunities to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation inform or influence decisions; improve existing channels or spaces to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation/ inform or influence decisions; create or improve capabilities in the government or the public aimed to improve how the government seeks feedback from citizens/enables participation/ or allows for the public to inform or influence decisions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Marginal

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The prospective members of the BPMEC are the community and by informing them of their rights and responsibilities regarding monitoring and evaluation, it can be said that the participation of the public has increased.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Merged Presentations_Open Monitoring and Evaluation_March 2025

2.1.3 Did the government create or improve channels, opportunities or capabilities to hold officials answerable to their actions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Marginal

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

Since there will be more eyes on the implementation of infrastructure projects, this will make the implementing agencies and the private contractors more accountable.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Merged Presentations_Open Monitoring and Evaluation_March 2025

2.1.4 Other Results

No

Degree of result:

Did not change

2.2 Did the commitment address the public policy problem that it intended to address as described in the action plan?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The stated problem was that the public has limited opportunity to give feedback on the actual status of the implementation of infrastructure projects. This was then appropriately addressed by informing the public of their opportunity to join the BPMEC.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Merged Presentations_Open Monitoring and Evaluation_March 2025

3. Provide at least one lesson or reflection relating to the implementation of this commitment. It can be the identification of key barriers to implementation, an unexpected help/hindrance, recommendations for future commitments, or if the commitment should be taken forward to the next action plan.

It is recommended that ample time for preparation for the activity be allotted. Moreover, this will ensure that the intended key participants will be invited and will ultimately be able to attend the activity intended for them. Finally, as in the Open Information commitment, the quality of discourse will be ensured if the activity is conducted completely in-person.