SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the Ilocos Region is promoting its Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (RPMES) to boost efficiency and inclusivity in monitoring government programs and projects.
NEDA Ilocos Region Director Stephanie Christiansen said that monitoring the outcomes and impacts of government programs through the RPMES leads to more effective implementation.
“Through the RPMES, we can analyze project implementation details, see the bigger picture, assess our successes and shortcomings, and make adjustments to achieve our regional and national goals,” Christiansen said.
Institutionalized under Executive Order No. 376 (Series of 1989), the RPMES enables Regional Development Councils to incorporate monitoring and evaluation (M and E) at both regional and subregional levels.
For 2025, NEDA plans to identify and enroll as many key priority programs and projects as possible from government agencies in the Ilocos Region for monitoring.
“Project monitoring becomes inclusive if all stakeholders are involved,” Christiansen emphasized.
A total of 146 projects have been registered in the RPMES so far, with the economic sector having the highest number at 74.
The infrastructure sector has 38 registered projects, the social sector has 18, governance has 11, and the environment sector has five.
NEDA taps the expertise of designated planning officers and focal persons from sectoral partners to fill out the RPMES details, while NEDA consolidates and analyzes the data.
The comprehensive M and E scope of the RPMES ensures accountability and transparency in government programs at the regional level.
“The RPMES is an essential mechanism for accountability and transparency. We are stewards of public funds provided through government budgets to implement programs and projects,” Christiansen said.
The system has been proven useful for government projects, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Enhanced National Greening Program, which successfully maintained and protected 2,951 hectares of land through improved monitoring in 2024.
Cherrylou Ambalong, DENR Region 1 project evaluation officer and the agency’s RPMES focal, said that using RPMES improves efficiency and transparency in monitoring and implementing environmental programs.
“Using RPMES improves our operations and ensures better transparency in monitoring and implementing environmental programs,” Ambalong said.
This improved monitoring system helps the public by making sure government programs are carried out more effectively and that public funds are used efficiently and transparently.
It allows for quick changes to programs, leading to better results and clear benefits for communities.
In the long term, this stronger oversight creates a more accountable and responsive government, helping the country’s growth. (AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
