TSU director invited as CHED’s PIP-TRIP lead speaker  

Dr. Jay R. Pabustan, director for Planning, Performance, Monitoring, and Evaluation, has been invited as resource speaker for the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) two-day nationwide workshop entitled “Proposal Writing for Public Investment Program (PIP) and Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program (TRIP)” held via Zoom last October 14-15, 2020.  

Planning officers, directors, and even vice-presidents and presidents of state universities and colleges (SUCs) all over the country participated in the online seminar to get assistance in enhancing or improving the crafting of project proposals for funding.  

In an interview, Dr. Pabustan said that the training program is held annually to refresh and prepare SUCs for their PIP updating.  

“The purpose of the orientation is to prepare for fiscal year 2022. Ngayon pa lang, yung mga project dapat ma-identify na. And then, dapat ma-review na ng CHED, ng DBM (Department of Budget and Management), ng regional council (RDC), and then eventually ng national – NEDA (National Economic Development Authority),” said Dr. Pabustan.  

During the morning session of the second day, feedback had already poured in. The most notable comment is from Dr. Maria Consuela Del Castillo of The University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) where she praised TSU’s practices, citing that the university had achievable targets. 

“We have to look at each end of the chapters,” Dr. Del Castillo noted referring to the 2017-2022 Public Investment Program, “because those are the indicators with which we [SUCs] will be measured. TSU was able to deliver on the pressing indicators.”  

When asked about Dr. Del Castillo’s remarks, Dr. Pabustan responded, “Di ko in-expect ‘yung ganoong feedback. It’s overwhelming. Actually, kung ano man yung pinresent ko doon as best practices, we’re doing it. ‘Di ko naman sasabihin iyon kung wala tayo. Siguro, I was able to communicate clearly what we are doing.”  

“Our [TSU] plan is anchored on the societal goals which is anchored on the PDP (Philippine Development Plan), Ambition 2040, CHED goals, then the Regional Development Council. The targets are clear because there are measurable indicators [which are] aligned with standards – like SUC leveling standards,” he added.  

Meanwhile, mock proposals were written during the last part of the seminar wherein two SUCs each from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will present for critiquing.  

“The purpose of the workshop was achieved as evidenced by the output of the presenters. You see, whenever you are proposing a program or project, you can increase the success rate of the approval if, for example, the project is well written and supportive of the national agenda – of the government,” Dr. Pabustan advised.  

Dr. Pabustan’s presentation for the two-day workshop included the best practices on the preparation of priority projects and programs (PAPs), procedures in seeking endorsement to PIP Online System (PIPOL) and Online Submission of Budget Proposal (OSBP), prioritization of project proposal, preparation of budget proposal forms, and preparation of the project proposal in PIPOL format. [Jodie Andrea G. Pangilinan]