A monthly newsletter of the Mindanao Rural Development Program

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Vol. 2 No. 3 March 2009

by Sherwin B. Manual

Over P30 million has been earmarked to salvage Mindanao’s natural resources,

one of the country’s major sources of food and livelihood.

The said amount is funded by the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) through its Natural Resources Management (NRM) component along with counterpart of six covered towns.

Beneficiaries for the year 1 implementation of NRM are the towns of RT Lim, Zamboanga Sibugay in Region 9; Linamon, Lanao del Norte in Region 10; Don Marcelino, Davao del Sur in Region 11; Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat in Region 12; Nasipit, Agusan del Norte in Caraga Region; and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“Noting that protection and conservation of environment will spur sustainable development in Mindanao, the second phase of MRDP has its NRM component that will implement

environmental conservation activities,” says MRDP Program Director Roger Chio.

The component will give primary consideration on watershed management and effective conservation management to pick up the dismal condition of the environment to “sustain the sources of our food and livelihood of many rural communities,” Chio added.

“These sites were selected as the focus of our on-the-ground investments due to the interconnectivity of the uplands down to the coastal areas especially with the presence of watershed areas that need conservation interventions,” Chio said.

Hard InvestmentsThe town of R.T. Lim will implement

riverbank stabilization, mangrove rehabilitation, establishment of fish sanctuary, agro-forestry for upland and lowland barangays with a total project cost of P6.99 million.

The agro-forestry plantation aims

to develop and strengthen capability of the local communities to improve and manage their remaining forest resources. Specifically it will develop an area of 100 hectares to be planted with rubber, durian, rambutan, lanzones, mango, and banana.

Mangrove rehabilitation project covers four coastal barangays with an area of 100 hectares to be planted with several mangrove species.

Moreover, a new fish sanctuary will be established in Barangay President Roxas while existing marine protected area in Barangay Magsaysay will undergo rehabilitation. Among the conservation interventions include establishment of perimeter buoys around the sanctuary for fishers to recognize the prohibited fishing operations in the area.

R.T. Lim Mayor Danilo Piodena said the identified projects will be a big boost in their efforts to conserve the town’s marine protected areas and upland resources.

Meanwhile the town of Linamon is ready to implement the P7 million worth of coral reef restoration and enhancement, agro-forestry conservation and ecotourism development of its natural wonder the Tinago Falls and conservation of its key river of Larapan.

Funding Nature

Committed to Environment. Officials sign the “Manifesto for Environment” to signify their commitment to protect Mindana’s natural resources - one of the country’s major sources of food and income. Leading the symbolic pledge are (L-R) MRDP Deputy Director, WB consultant Gilbert Braganza, R.T. Lim Mayor Danilo Piodena, a PO beneficiary and Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto Mangudadato.

MRDPulse Mindanao Rural Development Program

NEWS

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Agriculture production in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur is given

another boost as more livelihood investment were poured in the community.

Through the Mindanao Rural Development Program – Community Fund for Agricultural Development ( MRDP-CFAD), livelihood projects being implemented in the said town include: vegetable production, provision of draft animals, corn production, and rice production.

MRDP Program Director, Roger C. Chio in his speech delivered by CFAD Unit Head Lorna Lesaca during the town’s recent “Taphagan” festival said that the additional projects are part of the investment package designed to hasten rural development in Mindanao. These projects are expected to uplift the underprivileged sector of the society particularly the Indigenous People or IPs and rural women.

Through the endorsement and approval of Local Multi – Sectoral Committee, the livelihood projects are personally chosen by the Peoples’ Organization of Sta. Josefa.

“This will ensure that the projects will respond to the necessities of the rural communities,” Chio said.

He added that s part of MRDP’s commitment towards the attainment of Gender and Development in the agriculture sector, the program is targeting at least 30% of the livelihood projects can be participated in by the rural women themselves.

For instance, Melanie Rosauro in an interview said that because of MRDP they (housewives) are now maintaining their gardens while their husbands are out in the field. After the usual household chores, they now spend their time in livelihood projects they acquired making them more productive.

“MRDP guarantees that the beneficiaries will acquire a stake to the projects they are engaged into. For it is when they obtain the sense of ownership that they are determined to continue their livelihood activities,” said Chio.

Another beneficiary shared, that they use to transfer from one place to another so they could find a source of living. Now, they already recognize their stake at the project so they take initiative in developing the livelihood projects and not just wait for the government to provide all the necessary things they need. They are more empowered and they feel that they are also playing an important part for the success of the projects.

Director Chio further stressed that it is not enough to just give our small farmers livelihood. It is also important to note that sufficient infrastructure is needed to improve agribusiness and food production. Thus, he encouraged the local government to avail of MRDP’s Rural Infrastructure subprojects such as irrigation system and farm-to-market roads to ensure continuous developments of livelihood programs in rural communities and uplift the lives of its beneficiaries.

“Infrastructure projects must go with local livelihood activities to create laudable impact in the lives of rural folks,” Chio said.

“I commend the local officials for their support to the MRDP – Phase 1 wherein the strong partnership of the municipality with the national and local government proved that working together will help a lot in alleviating poverty and meeting food security requirements of the rural communities,” Chio added.

Chio hopes that the projects will be successful and that more projects will be implemented not only in Sta Josefa but also in the other municipalities in the province. (ZJGAlfaro)

More livelihood to boost agri production in Agusan del Sur

Improved income and production. The Awao High Value Vegetable Growers Association produces high value crops for Agusan del Sur and nearby provinces and since then their income has significantly improved. (Left photo) Women members of the PO show off their vegetable produce. Right photo shows Boy Rosauro in their newly acquired hauling multicab through the CFAD.

Improving People’s Lives. Reaching Farther and Wider. MRDPulse

NEWS

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Women in Linamon, Lanao del Norte busy themselves with their poultry

production, their family’s primary source of income.

“I used to be plain housewife but now I am earning a living to support our family,” says Gemma Roa, 43, and a mother of two.

Roa said the income of her husband, a local photographer using analog camera and the sole income-earner for the family, has become unstable on the onset of digital cameras.

“With what he earned, it was even difficult to send our children to elementary school,” she said.

Roa and 13 other women and four men are beneficiaries of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) through its livelihood component the Community Fund for Agricultural development (CFAD).

MRDP a long term poverty-alleviation of the government through the Department of Agriculture (DA) geared towards food security and increased income of small farmers underscores women’s potential to spur development in the countryside of Mindanao.

World Bank Senior Officer Carolina F. Geron said MRDP is hitting its targeted women beneficiaries.

“In the recent review mission by the World Bank we have seen that CFAD has attained its targeted number of women beneficiaries. To date, the component has benefited over 11 thousand households

across Mindanao and 35% of it accounts for women,” Geron said.

Roa said the moment they learned about the Program, they organized themselves and name their organization Mapilayong CFAD Movers Association, noting they were happy to benefit from the CFAD.

With an initial capital of P250,000 from the Program, they purchased their first 173 heads of chicken mid of November and since then had harvested thrice. And raised over P60 thousand in

three months time. They also earn extra from egg and the chicken dung.

They started to sell dressed chicken within town. But today, the supply chicken in cities of Iligan and Marawi.

Further, they have seen a future collaboration with Magnolia. The poultry giant has seen the viability of their business venture and they would be possibly tapped as chicken grower for Magnolia once they can put up a bigger chicken pen.

“From plain housewife, I’m now a working mama,” Roa quipped.

Rural women see potential of poultry production

MRDP mainstreams gender concernsWomen are vital to food security,

family well-being, even in income generation but they are merely recognized, research showed.

To address this concern, the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) ensures that women benefit from its projects as the program targets at least 30% women beneficiaries on its agriculture-fishery based business opportunities.

MRDP, now on its second phase, is a poverty alleviation Program implemented under the Department of

Agriculture (DA) for five years covering all of Mindanao’s 26 provinces and 225 municipalities.

Through its Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component, women are given priority consideration to take part in economic development through agriculture projects.

Program Director Roger C. Chio said that rural women’s potential in the development process should be tapped and strengthened particularly in the field of agriculture.

“Empowering women through

Poultry production has become the primary source of income for CFAD beneficiaries such as this woman. Chicks (inset photo) are grown for about 45 days before they are ready for market.

TEARS OF GRATITUDE. With tears on her eyes, the PO’s vice-president expresses her grtitiude to the MRDP team who visited their poultry production.

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MRDPulse Mindanao Rural Development Program

NEWS

In the town of Nasipit, the local government is ready to implement the P6.1 million worth of projects for the agro-forestry project of the upland community of Hamiguitan, the Nasipit marine sanctuary and bio-engineering riverbank stabilization.

In Southern Mindanao, at least P6.92 million is allotted for the rehabilitation and management of the watershed in the uplands of Don Marcelino in Davao del Sur along with the establishment of its fish sanctuary in its coastal area.

Moreover, the town of Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat, will benefit from mangrove rehabilitation and preservation of Limulan River by planting bamboo which is a deep rooted indigenous species trees and fruit trees to establish permanent riverbank protection to lessen the extreme widening, re-channeling and siltation of the water course caused by the rapid flow of the river.

Further in ARMM, Datu Odin Sinusat town is ready with its P7 million worth of subprojects consist of river stabilization, mangrove rehabilitation, fish sanctuary and forest plantation establishment. Residents of the town are happy to note of the program because it’s first of its kind since they were hit by tsunami in the 70’s.

No stopping now“Since everything has been put in

place, nothing can stop us now,” says World Bank NRM Consultant Gilbert Braganza during the consultation in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

The consultation has also cleared some issues such as the role of the barangay council in the implementation of the project. Braganza also encouraged the community to be vigilant and proactive in protecting the projects and ensuring transparency and sustainability in their area of responsibility.

Based on reports Nasipit has performed well in implementing WB funded projetcs hence Braganza expreseed that WB is confident that the LGU can do well or better with MRDP2.

Funding nature

Cattle raising could be a viable livelihood for rural folks as this requires lesser inputs, yet there’s always a ready market.

With this, the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) and Poblacion Farmer’s Association (PFA) of Salvador, Lanao del Norte opted cattle production as their livelihood under the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) component.

During the CFAD launching in Salvador town, a total of 21 cattle heads were distributed to the beneficiairies. The RIC has 20 women members, while the PFA has 15 members.

MRDP Regional Coordinator Constancio C. Maghanoy, Jr. encouraged the beneficiaries to

Cattle production to raise income of rural folks

manage the project well and be productive. “Since it was you who identified and

proposed this project, you need to properly manage this livelihood to be productive and improve your incomes,” Maghanoy said.

Further, Maghanoy who is also the Regional Technical Director of DA-RFU 10, committed to provide them one bull from the DA to help improve their cattle breed and increase production for better income.

Likewise, Sultan Johnny A. Tawantawan, who represented Mayor Raida L. Tawantawan encouraged the beneficiaries to do their best for the success of this MRDP funded project as this is intended by the government to help them alleviate poverty and improve their standard of living. (Manny Kerwin Martinez)

Manifesto for Environment To seal each town’s commitment to

pitch in for the environment, local chief executives, DA-MRDP officials and project beneficiaries sign a manifesto to live up to the aims of the projects by institutionalizing community-based approach implementation to instill ownership among beneficiaries by intesifying community’s awareness, building capacity for sustainable agricultural practices and helping guard and eliminate

illegal activities like kainging (slash and burn), dynamite fishing and other destructive activities.

MRDP, now on its second phase, is a long-term poverty alleviation program implemented under the DA with funding assistance from the national government, the World Bank and the local government units. (With reports from NTProvido, EPresilda and Chedecastro)

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All for Environment. Protection of the environment is a concern of all ages as (left photo) Gilbert Braganza (on green, seated) enjoys some moments with the elementary students and teachers of Nasipit. While Jamiguitan Brgy. Captain Felision Laurito (L) and Kinabjangan Brgy captain Aida Pacino plant bamboo along the river bank. (Photo: DA CARAGA)

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Improving People’s Lives. Reaching Farther and Wider. MRDPulse

NEWS

agribusiness activities expands the strength of rural economy since agriculture is the mainstay of economic activity in rural areas,” Chio said.

For its year 1 implementation, MRDP has earmarked close to P128 million for 51 municipalities. Of this amount, over P27 million was allotted to fund livelihood projects of women organization with almost 3000 beneficiaries.

Among the projects which women have identified for themselves are swine production, cattle raising, cutflower gardening, vegetable and high value crops growing, crab fattening, mini rice mill, integrated marine product processing and other value adding activities.

CFAD is a demand driven program where the people organizations (POs) themselves identify the projects based on the available resource of the community and skills of the members allowing poor communities to take part in the planning and decision-making process which establishes a sense of ownership and generate high-level participation. (SBManual)

MRDP supports multimillion irrigation project in Malaybalay

Realizing the importance of irrigation in boosting rice production, the City of Malaybalay is set to build a multimillion irrigation project.

The P115 million project proposed under the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) is seen to serve at least 500 hectares of rice land in Brgy. Managok and two other villages.

MRDP on its second phase, is a long-term poverty alleviation initiative of the national and local government implemented under the Department of Agriculture with funding assistance from the World Bank.

The project will be implemented under the Rural Infrastructure (RI) component that applies a fifty-fifty cost-sharing policy.

With such, MRDP will shell out at least P57.5 million as the counterpart of the national government while the remaining half of the total project cost is shouldered by the city government including the P1.17 million feasibility study and detailed engineering of the said project.

City Agriculture Officer Andrew Bergado noted that the Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) – Managok Communal Irrigation System will source water from the Langgasihan River and assured that existing irrigation facilities

will become part of the SWIP.The project is described as

advantageous to the city because prior proposals to build irrigation project was bucked for lack of funding from NIA.

City Councilor Amado Estrada, who chairs the city council committee on agriculture, told the city council in his presentation that the realization of the project will answer the felt need of the communities as it would redeem the dependence from rain- fed irrigations.

With this, it is expected that rice production in the area will be doubled and will greatly improve the livelihood of the farmers.

Through a resolution of the City Council, Mayor Florencio T. Flores Jr. entered into a memorandum of agreement expressing intent, willingness, and commitment to adopt the MRDP project.

Meanwhile, Program Director Roger C. Chio said that although infrastructure projects are the costliest of investments, they are the most fundamental in agricultural production.

“Rural Infrastructure should be prioritized as they directly enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to the food security and self- sufficiency,” Chio added. (ZJGAlfaro)

MRDP mainstreams...

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5TH PAB meeting heldThe fifth Program Advisory Board (PAB) meeting

was held March 10, 2009. The meeting discussed the most pressing issues that the Program has to address in its implementation including the recommendations of the World Bank during its recent review mission in February 2009. This photo op after the meeting shows (L-R standing) Sec. Keise Tan Usman, DAF-ARMM; Comr. Felecito Masagnay of NCIP; DA Asec. Ed Nolasco; PAB Co-chair and MEDCo Chair Usec Virgilio L. Leyretana; Program Director Roger C. Chio; Region 10 Executive Director Lealyn Ramos; RAFC Vice Chair for Mindanao Engr. Edwin Andot; BFAR Asst. National Director Gil Adora; (L-R sitting) RTD Visa Demerin; Deputy Director Engr. Arnel V. De Mesa and RPCO 10 Coordinator RTD Constancio Maghanoy and Mr. Raul Montes representing Mayor Pedro Achoron, Jr. of Gen. Santos City.

PHOTONEWS

To:

From:The Editor-in-Chief

MRDPulse 2/4 Flr. Alvarez BuildingAngliongto Sr. Ave., Lanang, Davao City http://mrdp.da.gov.ph

Noel T. Provido Sherwin B. Manual Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor

Remjim V. Salido Zyriel James Alfaro Circulation Manager Editorial Assistant CMU-Dev. Com. InternContributors:Regional InfoACE Focal Persons

Advisers: Dr. Roger C. Chio - Program Director Engr. Arnel V. De Mesa - Deputy Program Director

MRDPulse is a monthly in-house newsletter of the Department of Agriculture- Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP). Views of the writers in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by DA-MRDP. For your comments, suggestions and articles e-mail us at: mrdp_info@yahoo.com. Visit us at: http://mrdp.da.gov.ph

Regional Pulse

MRDP trains local partners on M&ETo ensure sustainability of subprojects,

a series of trainings on Community-Based Monitoring and Evaluation (CBMEG) was conducted this month in the provinces of Agusan del Sur and Zamboanga del Sur.

CBMEG is a group formed to coordinate monitoring and evaluation activities on subprojects implemented in the barangay to ensure that all processes of delivering the interventions are done as planned. They will take charge in monitoring the activities during the pre-implementation, actual implementation and evaluation of the project . They are also tasked to submit reports, observations and issues/problems as an aid in the assessment of the project in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, relevance and sustainability.

Caraga region In Caraga Region, the series of

CBMEG trainings started in Esperanza town in the first week. The town’s chief executive Hon. Leonida P. Manpatilan was present to grace the occasion.

The same training was also conducted in Trento town in the following week and in the town of Bunawan on the third week.

The two-day CBMEG trainings were jointly spearheaded by RPCO M&E Focal person Rebecca R. Atega, Provincial Program Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) of Agusan del Sur headed by Engr. Cynthia Lumanta with PPMIU M&E Unit Head Edna Tongson and the respective Municipal Program Management and Implementing Unit (MPMIU).

Through CBMEG, the communities were empowered to participate on monitoring and evaluating the implementation of MRDP subprojects on

their locality and report their findings directly to the municipal level.

The said towns will implement the subprojects of Rural Infrastructure (RI) and Community Fund for agricultural Development (CFAD) components.

Zamboanga Del SurOn the other hand, a two-day

pilot training for CBMEG was done in Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur

Participants included Barangay officials of Gusom, Picanan, Diplo, Salagmanok, Gawil and Bogayo.

During the training, emphasis were given on the roles and responsibilities of CBMEG, how to do monitoring process, input/output monitoring and results/ outcome monitoring and evaluation

Field visits to various project sites were also conducted for the participants to have hands-on M &E activities.

Picanan Barangay Captain Rolando Jayme said that the training made them realize their imposrtant role in the project implementation.

“I thought after giving our counterpart, our tasks (as Brgy. Officials) for the project were over. Thanks to this training, I now understand more clearly that we play crucial role in the project implementation,” said Jayme.

“We can use what we have learned here not only in MRDP but also to other government projects,” he added.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Eugenio Salva, Jr. assured his constituents on the continued support of the LGU to the various projects implemented in the barangays.

RPCO-9 and MPMIU staff also attended the training to get valuable insights that they can use in condcuting the suceeding CBMEG trainings to other covered sites in the region.

by Aurell P. Arais and Vivian Andalahao

M&E Unit Head Joseph D. Rico (2nd left) guides the participants on the actual monitoring activities during their visit to one of the project sites in Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur.