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VI. Monitoring and Evaluation Environment
In 2004, a monitoring and evaluation working group (MEWG) was constituted, with funding and technical support from UNAIDS. The MEWG, which continues to meet, is tasked to come up with the following:
identify and adopt core indicators and country-specific indicators, taking into account the situation of HIV and AIDS in the country; develop an M&E manual approved by PNAC; train key representatives from government, NGOs, and private agencies on how to use the manual and collect data using the manual; and print and circulate copies of the M&E manual to identified agencies and individuals.
As of reporting date, the draft of the M&E manual was still undergoing revision based on recommendations during a MEWG workshop in October 2005. Training of data collectors on the use of the manual will be conducted during the first quarter of 2006. It is hoped that trained data collectors from each of the key agencies will start and will continue to systematically collect data. It is anticipated that with an M&E system in place by early- or mid-2006, data collection for the CRIS and for the 2007 Country Report will be better facilitated.
The above activities are being undertaken by the PNAC-DOH and the UNAIDS. Coordination and documentation of activities are being undertaken by the Women's Health Care Foundation (WHCF), PNAC's and UNAIDS' NGO partner for the M&E project.
Needs for M & E Technical Assistance
For monitoring and evaluation (M&E), the following support is needed:
1. Technical assistance for
training of key people from the DOH and NGO focal point on maintaining the CRIS database; and training of representatives from key government agencies, NGOs, LGUs, and private agencies on how to systematically collect data (disaggregated according to gender, age and location) and package these for utilization such as in Country Reports. It was observed that while data is generated by and lodged in these agencies, many remain as raw data. There was difficulty encountered in getting summarized or packaged data even from the main data sources.
2. Forging of cooperative agreements between national agencies and local government agencies
Most of the data are lodged in the LGUs since program and activity implementation is now the domain of LGUs. However, under the devolution of government functions, LGUs are not required to submit reports to the national agencies. Hence, there was difficulty in obtaining the needed data.
Remedial Action: Recommendations for future reporting (2007 Reporting)
To address gaps observed in the period reviewed, the following should have been undertaken and achieved in 2006 and sustained onwards:
1. Collection of Data Disaggregated According to Gender, Age, Location
Data sources government agencies, LGUs and NGOs should have ensured that data disaggregated according to gender, age and location are collected for all indicators and that the data remains disaggregated even as it is transmitted from the local to the national level.
2. HIV Education in Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Technical/Vocational Levels
Modules should have been pre-tested, finalized, printed, distributed and used for training teachers at all levels nationwide.
The Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) should have started training teachers to teach life skills in the schools (primary, secondary, tertiary and technical/vocational schools). These teacher training activities should be done on a yearly basis due to the rapid turnover of teaching staff. Moreover, there should also be a trained core group of teachers (pool of teachers) in each school such that even if others leave, there will always be teaching staff left to continue the program.
Trained teaching staff should have started teaching life skills in their respective schools by mid-2006 and all of these trainings should have been documented.
3. Inventory and Monitoring of HIV/AIDS Core Teams (HACT) and Local AIDS Councils (LAC)
By 2007, there should have been an inventory of HIV/AIDS Core Teams (HACT) and Local AIDS Councils (LAC) in order to obtain information on whether these are still functional. For this undertaking, the concerned DOH agencies and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) need the cooperation of local government units and the local agencies.
4. Inventory and Monitoring of Public and Private Clinics/Facilities Providing VCT and those Providing STI Diagnosis, Treatment and Counseling
By 2007, there should have been an inventory of public and private clinics/facilities providing VCT and those providing STI diagnosis, treatment and counseling to ensure that these are functional, are able to meet the needs of concerned people, and adhere to set standards and ethical principles and guidelines. For this undertaking, the concerned DOH agencies need the cooperation of both private and public facilities in rural and urban sites, at all levels, in all regions.
5. Identifying and Developing Uniform Indicators for National Surveys
Uniform indicators and standardized questions for national surveys should have been identified to help facilitate faster and more efficient data collection and harmonization. For the past years, different surveys have asked different questions pertaining to knowledge and behaviors making it harder to harmonize the data and summarize these in national reports. For example, the 2003 NDHS, 2002 YAFS, 2003 IHSS and the 2005 IHBSS satisfy only 3 to 4 out of the required 5 questions in the UNGASS guidelines even if more than five questions had been fielded in some of these surveys. This is understandable as these surveys preceded the release of the UNGASS guidelines. It is hoped that UNAIDS, PNAC and other concerned government agencies and NGOs will be able to successfully negotiate for all the five indicators to be included in the next round of surveys.
6. Summarizing and Packaging of Data for Easier Collection and Utilization
Representatives from key government agencies, NGOs, LGUs, and private agencies should have been trained on how to systematically collect and summarize data and package these for utilization. It was observed that while data exists in these agencies, many remain as raw data. It was difficult to get summarized or packaged data even from main data sources.
7. Forging and Ensuring Cooperation between Agencies
Cooperation between national agencies and local government agencies should have been forged and ensured through policies and memoranda of agreement (MOA). Currently, most of the data are lodged in the LGUs since program and activity implementation is now the domain of LGUs. However, under the devolution of government functions, LGUs are not required to submit reports to the national agencies. Hence, there was difficulty in obtaining the needed data for this 2005 Country Report.
Data Collection Plan
For the 2007 Reporting, the following major data sources can be utilized
Data collection plan
(for 2008 reporting) |
2006 |
2007 |
| Household Surveys |
NDHS held every 5 years: next round in 2008; the last survey was in 2003 |
NDHS held every 5 years: next round in 2008; the last survey was in 2003 |
| Health Facility Surveys |
yearly |
yearly |
| School-based Surveys |
The conduct of surveys depend on whether there are available funds.
A KAP survey will be conducted in 2006 |
Depending on availability of funds. However, a KAP survey will be conducted in 2006 and results of these can be used in the 2008 UNGASS reporting |
| Workplace Surveys |
yearly |
yearly |
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