Geotagging, a tool for monitoring and evaluation has been introduced to Program for Local Economic Development through Enlightened Governance and Grassroots Empowerment (PLEDGE) implemented by Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) through training on June 29 to July 1, 2015 at Estosan Garden Hotel, Cotabato City. .

Geotagging is a monitoring tool for transparency and total public disclosure. It is the practice of associating a digital resource (e.g. photos, websites, SMS) with a physical location.

Accordingly, the purpose of the activity is to acquire skills and knowledge in the geotagging application and also to geotag the location of the project sites under PLEDGE intervention.

Antara Alfonso, BDA-Management Information System Officer (MISO), and the resource person of said activity said that it is good for the PLEDGE to use Geotagging application as one of their tools in Monitoring and Evaluation.

“In this training, we capacitate our staffs in PLEDGE specially those who are in the field on how to use this geotagging technology in the implementation of the PLEDGE “, Alfonso said.

Alfonso presented to the participants what geotagging is and demonstrated how certain photo is uploaded or geotagged online using the system discussed.

Each participants were provided with tablet computer during the training for the actual application of the inputs provided.

Participants to the training were Community Enterprise Development Officers (CEDOs) of the program from the six regions of BDA where PLEDGE is being implemented.

Program staff at Central Management Office (CMO) level also joined the training.

“In our group (CEDOs), Geotagging must be implemented so that our hardship would not be wasted if it could not be applied in the field”, said by one of the participants.

This 3-day training included presentations such as what is Geotagging about, basic photography and map of geotagged photos.

PLEDGE is the economic and livelihood component of Mindanao Trust Fund (MTF) administered by the World Bank with support from various donors such as

International Labour Organization (ILO) is the trust fund recipient of the program.

The program aims to contribute to confidence and peace building efforts through local economic development and sustainable livelihood creation in conflict affected areas in Mindanao.