World Bank rates ASFP ‘satisfactory’

COTABATO CITY – The World Bank 12th Review Mission has rated ‘satisfactory’ the implementation of the ARMM Social Fund Project (ASFP) during its recent assessment of the project on May 12-15.

Based on its Implementation Completion Report (ICR), the Mission scored ASFP’s over-all implementation performance on its three project components namely Community Development Assistance (CDA), Strategic Regional Infrastructure (SRI) and Institutional Strengthening and Governance (ISG) as ‘adequate and standard.’

ASFP Project Manager Mustapha A. Sambolawan said, “The ARMM regional government holds on to its undertaking of addressing the basic needs of poor communities. The ASFP is just the medium. We can modestly say that thousands of people in the target communities are now benefiting the services of these projects.”

The Mission, headed by Mr. Doug Forno, WB Team Leader for the preparation of the ICR, and Miss Mary Judd, WB Task Team Leader for Asia and the Pacific, scaled the ASFP’s performance from the unvarying growth rate of disbursement and activity outputs, minimal project management cost ratio and positive response of ARMM stakeholders, local government units (LGUs) and peoples organizations (POs).

During the wrap up meeting of the ARMM agencies involved in the project implementation, Forno said the satisfactory rating of the project can also be attributed to the strict adherence of the regional government to the standards set by the WB and the national government including manner of disbursements, procurement procedures and administrative management of the office.

The 12th Review Mission would be the last and final assessment of the WB to the ASFP before the closure and termination of the project on June 30.

During the ASFP Convention and Workshop of People’s Organizations, local government units and ARMM line agencies in Davao City last April 13-15, 2009, ARMM Regional Governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, in his message, said “The ASFP has been the champion of the regional government in introducing and supporting programs and projects that will alleviate poverty, improve health and education, and fast-track the regional economy.”

Earlier, stakeholders pointed out that ASFP’s approach in initiating projects in the communities has established transparency and accountability, unity in the grassroots, effective poverty-reduction strategy as well as increased visibility of ARMM line agencies.

In sum, ASFP had completed 1,828 CDA sub-projects [1,558 are Community-Based Infrastructure (CBI) and 270 are Learning Livelihood and Food Sufficiency (LLFS)]; 13 SRI sub-projects are now functional and in the process of procuring additional goods; and 22 Madaris (Arabic schools) had received accreditation from Department of Education (DepEd) and the remaining 21 are in the process per Program Contract (PC).

The Mission also lauded the ARMM regional government for the outstanding accomplishment and concluded that the impact of ASFP’s three project components (CDA, SRI and ISG) is generally evident in ARMM communities as services are increasing particularly in the conflict and poverty-stricken areas.

Regional Governor Ampatuan is optimistic that with ASFP’s ‘satisfactory’ grade, the World Bank will continue to extend its services for the people of the autonomous region.

“We all yearn for a peaceful environment in the ARMM that is why the regional government is exhausting all means to cultivate sustainable development. These projects did not only empower our communities, above all, improve the living conditions of the people in the region,” he stressed.

The ASFP is a $33.6 million program funded by the WB through a soft loan by the national government and given to the ARMM as a grant since 2003. (BPI-ARMM)