Page 1 INTEGRATED SAFEGUARDS DATA SHEET CONCEPT STAGE Report No.: AC1606 Date ISDS Prepared/Updated: 05/15/2008 I. BASIC INFORMATION A. Basic Project Data Country: Philippines Project ID: P078252 Project Name: National Program Support for Agrarian Reform (NP-SAR) Task Team Leader: Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough Estimated Appraisal Date: August 28, 2009 Estimated Board Date: December 14, 2012 Managing Unit: EASRE Lending Instrument: Sector Investment and Maintenance Loan Sector: Animal production (80%);Crops (20%) Theme: Rural policies and institutions (P);Land administration and management (S) IBRD Amount (US$m.): 60.00 IDA Amount (US$m.): 0.00 GEF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 PCF Amount (US$m.): 0.00 Other financing amounts by source: Borrower 30.00 Local Communities 8.00 38.00 B. Project Objectives [from section 2 of PCN] The objective of the project would be to support the Government meet its major development goals related to growth, equity and poverty reduction, by completing essential processes in agrarian reform as efficiently as possible. This would reduce the overall cost of prolonged uncertainties and distortions in the agriculture sector which currently hamper investment and hence, performance, competitiveness and responsiveness of the sector to changing global trends. More specifically, the project would aim to: (i) rationalize expenditures in line with agreed DLR priorities, thereby supporting government?s broader objective of improving public sector effectiveness; (ii) expedite the efficient provision of support services, including, where appropriate, the devolution of functions to other agencies and LGUs; and (iii) scale-up lessons and positive experiences from past projects supporting agrarian reform. C. Project Description [from section 3 of PCN] The project would be designed within the framework of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), DLR?s Medium Term Project Implementation Plan (MTPIP) and its budget. The project would have four components, three in support of DLR?s Major Final Outputs (MFOs) and the fourth for institutional strengthening. The proposed components are: (i) Page 2 Land Administration and Distribution (LAD); (ii) Agrarian and Social Justice; (iii) Support services; and (iv) Institutional Strengthening and Management. In addition, it would aim to strengthen the impact of DLR?s programs for growth by focusing on improving cost- effectiveness, strengthening linkages with other agencies and programs to reduce duplication especially at LGU level. Such convergence between different institutions is central to government?s wider rationalization program for which the project would provide an key platform. Accordingly, the project would support consultations (within DLR and with the oversight agencies) and facilitate development of Action Plans for rationalizing the strategic thrusts, functions, and implementation goals for DLR. Suggested activities under the components are summarized below and are in line with DLR priorities. Emphasis would be on ensuring linkages with other programs and institutions, through memorandum of agreements MOAs and contracts, to avoid overlapping functions and harmonize operational procedures, cost?sharing requirements and coordination at the field level. NP-SAR Component # 1 - Land Adjudication and administrative Support Key Activities to be supported (Preparation of each activity to be supported through a PHRD grant): a) Land survey and mapping ( in collaboration with DENR) b) Technical and policy support for land tenure Improvement c) Land tenure M&E NP-SAR Component # 2 - Agrarian and Social Justice Key Activities to be supported: a) Agrarian Legal Assistance to accelerate the resolution of land cases b) Agrarian reform education and training c) Training NP-SAR Component # 3 - Support Services and market related Infrastructure Key Activities to be supported: a) Agriculture and enterprise development (linking with DA) b) Technology promotion, farmer support and training promotion (with LGUs and DA) c) Marketing assistance (with DA) d) Expansion of market infrastructure (in line with operational procedures adopted by DA for similar activities) e) Targeted poverty interventions for very poor areas NP-SAR Component # 4 - Institutional Strengthening and rationalization Key Activities to be supported: a) Strengthen linkage between policies, plans, budgets and (MFOs) b) Improve implementation efficiency through program Contracts & Agreements with DLR units c) Monitoring and Evaluation d) Refinement of Core Functions and MFO?s D. Project location (if known) National E. Borrower’s Institutional Capacity for Safeguard Policies [from PCN] Page 3 The Borrower through its Department of Land Reform (DLR), which is the project?s implementing agency, has been implementing the World Bank-funded Agrarian Reform Communities Development Project (ARCDP) which is now in its second phase of implementation. Both ARCDP I and II have invested enormous resources in building the safeguards capacity of the Central Project Office (CPO), which is mostly manned by consultants, the Regional and Provincial Offices of DLR, participating LGUs and agrarian communities. Both projects have been rated satisfactory by the Bank in terms of complying with the safeguard requirements of the Bank. DLR has an in-house environment unit, but this has not been actively engaged in ODA-assisted projects in the past. A rapid assessment of its capacity, and needs for strengthening it is currently being carried out as part of the stocktaking exercise on the country safeguards system managed by the Manila ES team. There is no specific focal unit in the agency for involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples?. However, there is a clear legal and grievance redress system and process (from the municipal level-MARO to the Provincial and Central Office level) for issues related to the agrarian land transfer (from landowners to farmers). Issues related to valuation, compensation payments, titling, conflicting claims, etc. are managed through this existing structure. The Municipal Agrarian Reform Officers (MAROs) have in the past been the primary grievance officers on issues between tenants and landowners; between tenants and subtenants, among tenants, etc. The proposed project?s preparatory activities will need to include a more substantive institutional assessment of the agency?s present in-house capacity and structure for safeguards oversight and implementation, so as to recommend measures for strengthening capacities and procedures. F. Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialists II. SAFEGUARD POLICIES THAT MIGHT APPLY Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD Environmental Assessment (OP/BP 4.01) X The component on support services and market-related infrastructure will be supporting market-related infrastructure (e.g., farm-to-market roads, bridges, water systems, irrigation systems, etc.) that may have environmental impacts during construction if proper housekeeping, environment and health safety measures are not properly put in place and implemented. In view of these, the EA policy is deemed triggered. Natural Habitats (OP/BP 4.04) X Since the project will include civil works, and sub-projects sites have not been identified, it is not known at this time whether sub-projects will be located in protected areas, known natural habitats, or established or proposed critical natural habitats. Sub-project sites need to be further identified during the preparation mission. Forests (OP/BP 4.36) X To be decided. Pest Management (OP 4.09) X The project documents state that the project will finance agriculture and enterprise development and technology promotion that will result in increased use of chemical pesticides to Page 4 Safeguard Policies Triggered Yes No TBD control pests, Physical Cultural Resources (OP/BP 4.11) X Potential impact of infrastructure subprojects to be supported under the project on cultural property cannot be ascertained in advance. However, as a safeguard measure the following shall be undertaken by DLR: a) prior reference to the government listing of significant historical and cultural sites, which must be integrated into the screening/appraisal of subprojects; and b) inclusion of a clause on all civil works contracts concerning actions to be undertaken in case of a chance find. Indigenous Peoples (OP/BP 4.10) X Some of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) are indigenous peoples and some Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) assisted by the DLR are inhabited by IPs. Both IP-ARBs and IP inhabitants in ARCs are among the targeted sectors within the agrarian reform context. The challenge has been on the effectiveness of the inclusion/participation mechanisms to ensure that IPs equally benefit from the agrarian reform related support being provided by DLR. An improved IP targeting mechanism is being developed as part of an ongoing JSDF grant, which is also being supervised by the Bank. Once agreed with key stakeholders and approved by the DLR Management, this enhanced mechanism (together with the streamlined FPIC process also being developed through the same grant) will serve as the over-all IP framework for the project and all the other projects of DLR. Involuntary Resettlement (OP/BP 4.12) X Infrastructure subprojects to be supported under the project may result in minor land acquisition and losses/damage to some privately owned assets. The land acquisition, resettlement and rehabilitation adopted for ARCDP2 will need to be reviewed to fit the new arrangements in the proposed project. Safety of Dams (OP/BP 4.37) X At this point, it is not certain if any irrigation dams will be planned. If there are any planned dams, there may depending on size, be need for mitigation measures, such as, appropriate engineering standards and practices and siting criteria. This needs to be determined during preparation mission. Projects on International Waterways (OP/BP 7.50) X To be decided. Projects in Disputed Areas (OP/BP 7.60) X To be decided. Environmental Category: B - Partial Assessment III. SAFEGUARD PREPARATION PLAN A. Target date for the Quality Enhancement Review (QER), at which time the PAD-stage ISDS would be prepared: 02/20/2006 B. For simple projects that will not require a QER, the target date for preparing the PAD-stage ISDS: 02/20/2006 Page 5 C. Time frame for launching and completing the safeguard-related studies that may be needed. The specific studies and their timing 1 should be specified in the PAD-stage ISDS. It will be completed by pre-appraisal, as the only action is to update the environmental guidelines for ARCDP 2, which has been rated Satifactory by the Bank. IV. APPROVALS Signed and submitted by: Task Team Leader: Ms Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough 06/06/2005 Approved by: Regional Safeguards Coordinator: Mr Glenn S. Morgan Comments: Sector Manager: Mr Rahul Raturi 06/21/2005 Comments: 1 Reminder: The Bank's Disclosure Policy requires that safeguard-related documents be disclosed before appraisal (i) at the InfoShop and (ii) in-country, at publicly accessible locations and in a form and language that are accessible to potentially affected persons. Page 6