AusAID, Silliman to Sign Agreement on Masbate Project

Silliman University and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) will be formalizing an agreement on a project that is seen to help improve the development planning capacity of the local government unit of the province of Masbate.

A formal launch of the project “Participatory, Evidence-Based Research and Learning Partnership (PERL) in Masbate Province” is scheduled early this month with Silliman President Dr. Ben S. Malayang III and AusAID Counselor Mr. Andrew Egan.

AusAID will provide the grant to run the project for an initial period of two years. Tapped as lead unit for Silliman is the School of Public Affairs and Governance (SPAG) under its Director, Dr. Reynaldo Rivera.

The project uses the PERL program of which implementation SPAG will design, manage and coordinate. The PERL approach will provide opportunities to the LGU staff and key stakeholders in Masbate to collaborate with partners coming from different areas of specialization in the University. This facilitates better identification of development opportunities, constraints and interventions.

Utilizing consultative and participatory processes, among others, the PERL program is directed at bringing about results that could be integrated into local development plans, including Masbate’s Provincial Development Plan.

Four main components will guide the implementation of the PERL program: Stakeholder Consultation and Participatory Research, Capacity Development and Learning, Communication for Development, and Program Management.

Masbate is classified a “first class” province but has been consistently ranked as among the country’s ten poorest provinces.