Developing pro-poor markets for environmental services in the ...

in its entirety. To do so, a nationally based office is needed. However, such an objective can
be served through stricter monitoring, not necessarily by the office getting involved in the
approval process. In this case, the PAWB is in the best position to act as an overseeing body
for the whole IPAF process. As such, it should continue its tight coordination with all PAs
under its jurisdiction. However, it should transform its functions that are geared more towards
monitoring of the implementation of plans and programs, particularly those specified in the
WFPs, rather than being part of the approval process. Hence, it should still be furnished
copies of whatever documents are being submitted for endorsement and approval. This option
will also save time and personnel, both of which can be used for monitoring purposes.
During the interview with the chief of the PAWS Division of DENR Region III, that
individual expressed the need to lessen the involvement of Manila-based offices in the
process. For one thing, the claim was that these offices were in the best position to review
WFPs, given their familiarity and tighter coordination with the PAs under their jurisdiction.
Furthermore, the transport of documents from far-flung areas to Manila can eat up a lot of
time, further delaying the process of budget releases. They, however, subscribe to the idea
that PAWB should still play a major role, albeit more as a monitoring body rather than as one
from which approval shouild be sought.
Another major step that can be taken to shorten the process is to delegate the actual release of
the funds to the respective DBM regional offices. In this case, the DENR regional office can
go straight to the DBM regional office, thus shortening not only the travel time of documents
but also the accounting component of the process. According to the interview conducted with
DBM personnel, central office staff are overloaded with work, thus explaining the length of
time the documents take at their department. It would well be within the jurisdiction of
central office to delegate to their regional offices, given the decentralisation and devolution
aspirations of the Philippine government. Again, central office would still be involved
through monitoring schemes, but not necessarily through the approval process. This will ease
up the delays in release of funds, but will not sacrifice the oversight function of the national
offices through stricter monitoring activities. In doing so, the process can probably be
shortened by another month or so, depending on the speed of the Regional Offices in acting
on IPAF requests.
Figure 3.3 contains the proposed process of flow of documents and the potential decrease in
the number of days for the whole process to be completed.
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