On invitation of the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the National Engineering Center (NEC), ADFIAP attended a 4-day training program on “Project Supervision: Environmental and Social Management” from November 8-11, 2016 at the Sulo Riviera Hotel, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
The program was aimed at providing the elements for monitoring environmental and social safeguard policies during the implementation phase of projects, the tools to improve safeguard supervision, the tools and instruments that are available and the reporting needed after such supervision.
This is particularly important for development projects for financing by local authorities and banks’ Board of Directors including the World Bank and ADB. The learnings from lectures, clinics and group/individual exercises likewise served as a good consultation tool with stakeholders and a guide to effective project implementation.
Topics covered were the following: The World Bank and ADB Safeguard Policies; Social and Environmental Safeguards; Improving Safeguard Documentation for Supervision: Environmental Management Plans, Operational Manuals and others; Planning and Conducting Safeguard Supervision Missions for Environment and Social; Public Consultation and Disclosure and Grievance Redress Mechanisms; and Supervision of Environmental and Social Aspects during Civil Works.
As a culminating activity, project visits were made at the Pasig River and Lower Marikina River and Backfill sites, after which the participants, who were grouped into 4 teams, were asked to prepare a supervision report for presentation to the Resource Speakers.
The resource persons who shared their expertise during the program were Mr. Gerardo Parco, World Bank Senior Environmental Engineer; Mr. Vergel Medina, ADB Social Development Specialist; Ms. Victoria Florian-Lazaro, Safeguards Practitioner; Mr. Richard Bryan Uy, President and Managing Director of Pacific Spectrum Environmental Research & Consultancy, Inc.; Mr. Romeo Gilbuena, Jr., SVP of Woodfields Consultant, Inc.; Dr. . Rolando Guano, President of BMP Environment & Community Care, Inc. ; Ms. Esperanza Lee, Lecturer at the Virata School of Business, University of the Philippines, Diliman; and Dr. . Maria Antonia Tanchuling, Professor at the Institute of Civil Engineer, University of the Philippines, Diliman.
ADFIAP was represented in the training program by Mr. Victor Abainza, Senior Consultant/Head for Business Development and Marketing and members of the ADFIAP Consulting Team, namely: Ms. Corazon Conde, Group Head; Atty. Alberto Reyno, Managing Principal; and Ms. Arlene Orencia, Head- Plans and Programs.
For more detail of the event, please email the ADFIAP Secretariat at [email protected].