NEW BATAAN, Compostela Valley, Dec 27 (PIA) -- At the heart of Barangay Andap in New Bataan, Compostela Valley boulders, huge rocks and rushing waters now occupy the spot where the barangay hall, the covered court, the health center and the complete elementary school building once stood.

There used to be flourishing agricultural farms of 

various crops, a thriving tourism industry with mountain and spring resorts, a growing barangay with its infrastructure but these were gone after that early morning on December 4 when Typhoon Pablo caused strong current of a flash-flood to rush through Barangay Andap, sweeping them away. 

When the flash-flood was over human lives were lost and the landscape of Barangay Andap changed. Boulders, huge stones, sand and gravel spread wide across the heart of the barangay particularly in Purok 1A and in Purok 14. The water from the Mayo River were rushing through a new path, far from its original course. 

An aerial survey conducted on Dec. 6 revealed that the phenomenon was caused by a hurricane, New Bataan Mayor Lorenzo Balbin Jr. said. He denied reports of a landslide. 

Based on his account, the hurricane hit Compostela Valley’s highest mountain range known as the White Peak that rises 8,876 feet above sea level. 

Noting those portions of the White Peak which had been broken off, Balbin surmised these were the spots where the rocks, the boulders, stones and grave had come from and rolled, rushing down the hills along with the huge volume of waters poured by the hurricane. 

That incident transformed the picture of Barangay Andap. Looking around, Antonio Maslunag recalled images of houses that used to border along the road leading to the mountain and spring resorts which can no longer be found . 






“Diha to dapit nagpuyo akong mga paryente. Mga baynte kabuok sila nangawala (It was there that my relatives used to live. I lost about 20 of them),” he said while pointing at the broken cemented road which almost disappeared and buried under boulders and huge volume of sand and gravel. 

Because his own family is intact, Maslunag still wants to stay in Barangay Andap not threatened by frequent occurrence of floods as waters from nearby mountains are flowing down out of their usual course. 

Celia Villafuerte, 60 years of age resident of Barangay Andap, holds the same sentiment saying she has to stay because she has nowhere to go. 

“Kung mohawa ko diri, asa ko mopuyo? Unsa ang akong panginabuhian didto? (If I will leave, where will I stay? How will I make a living there?),” she said while clutching a pack of Noche Buena from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

In her pre-Christmas visit in Barangay Andap, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman noted that some of the barangay residents had already moved out of their place. “Those who have no choice but stay, are whom we are trying to help find new place to live,” she said. 

Andap Punong Barangay Francisco Aldueso said Andap is home to 1,557 families. He admits that some have been moving out but some are still staying. 

Looking at a tarpaulin presentation of Barangay Andap accomplishments, he recalls the beauty of the place, the green vegetation, the thriving agriculture livelihood of barangay residents and the facilities set up during his stint. He is glad to have retrieved the tarp which is the only evidence of what Barangay Andap used to be. 

Restoration, however, is underway. Mayor Balbin reveals the on-going rehabilitation effort of Barangay Andap, starting off with rechanneling and de-silting of the Mayo River which river bed has been heavily filled with debris, uprooted trees, sand and boulders. 

Balbin sees the immediate need of such engineering interventions because waters that used to the Mayor River as its course, are now flowing through New Bataan Poblacion area, flooding puroks 4, 17, 18 and portion of Purok 16 everytime heavy rain comes 

Considering such effort to take some time, temporary shelters and bunkhouses are built providing shelter for those who have no place to live. (RGA/JMDA/PIA XI) 

In times of adversity

                The preaching of Dr. Charles Stanley yesterday (Sunday, Dec. 09) came  very timely as the world was looking at the vast destruction  that Typhoon Pablo made, when it  swept  through several provinces in  Mindanao, and went its way to Visayas areas,  carrying a packed wind of 175 kilometer per hour (kph).

Dr. Stanley talked about facing adversity which he described as sickness,  loss,  grief or severe pain.  He explained his thoughts about standing strong  amidst adversity  by citing  the life of Apostle Paul whose life in prison  made believers confident and bold enough to  preach the message of Christ, as discussed in Phil. 1:13-15.   Dr. Stanley drew some insights  from Apostle Paul’s experiences, and explained the lessons that the  Apostle was learning while going through  various forms of adversities.

             
Citing  2Cor. 12:7, he said Apostle Paul learned that everything “comes from God.” In this verse, the Apostle talks about suffering painful physical ailment. He interprets this as the Lord’s way of keeping him from being “puffed up.”

             
Apostle Paul asks the Lord that such pain be taken away (2Cor. 12:8) but God answers him saying, “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak (2Cor. 12:8).”  In the succeeding verses, Paul  testifies how Christ’s power has protected him, making him feel happy and content despite  the adversities he has encountered.  He goes on to conclude “for when I am weak then I am strong.” (2Cor.12:10). (Writer’s discussion)

Citing such positive attitude that  the Apostle showed amidst adversities, Dr. Stanley  said that Apostle Paul “understood that God was with him in it” and that  “Paul was learning the ways of God.”

Apostle Paul also learned that “adversity makes him a more effective comforter”.  2Cor. 1:3-4 says that “praise be  to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the  Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” In further explaining the verse,  Dr. Stanley looked at adversity as God’s way of “equipping” us to become comforters of others.

             
If  God is doing good for those who love Him and those whom he has called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28), and if He is an ever loving Father, why does He allow us to suffer?  It’s because God has specific purpose for allowing adversities  to happen, Dr. Stanley said.

             
He wants  to draw us into an intimate relationship  with him. “An intimacy that goes  beyond flesh.  He wants us to know Him.” Dr. Stanley said.

             
Building such intimate relationship, Apostle Paul learned that, indeed, he could “rejoice” despite some adversities in his life.  He vividly professed rejoicing  in Phil. 4:4 which says, “Rejoice in the Lord Always. I  will say it again: Rejoice!”

Here was a man who had been put to jail several times;  often put to shame; persecuted and eventually executed, had the spirit to rejoice. He even told the world “not to be anxious about anything,”(Phil.4:6).

             
In wrapping up his preaching, Dr. Stanley told his listeners to think about a bridge leading to intimate relationship with God, when facing adversities in life. “A relationship  that revolutionalizes your life; equips you to become a better servant of God.”

             
He ended up his preaching by leaving a phrase that prompted listeners to make a choice, “either to rebel against God or  to surrender to Him,” in times of adversity.

               
To rejoice in this time of trouble is unimaginable.  Such is beyond the thoughts of displaced individuals, of people who have lost their loved ones,  their homes and their means of livelihood. But  whom can we cling to and hope for miracles?

             
Our church, Iglesia sa Dios Espiritu Santo, has been warning us of calamitous events to  happen.  It has been  telling its members to prepare. We can only pack few food and some belongings.  What we can  load up  is so much faith and trust in God.

(Dr. Charles Stanley: www.InTouch.org) 

Tagum Coop’s Norma Pereyras, working from the heart

                 

(photo from Tagum Coop)

THIS WOMAN holds this year’s crown as the  Most Outstanding Cooperative Leader in the Philippines, besting two other nominees to the 2012 Gawad Parangal of the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), but such award is seen as long overdue because she has been living  and giving her best all the time.

                She’s a vibrant woman, mother, wife, entrepreneur, church volunteer, Rotarian, Girl Scout leader, gender and family enrichment  advocate,  lector,  resource speaker, mediator rolled into one as a cooperative leader.  She is Norma Pereyras,   chairperson  of the award-winning Tagum Cooperative  and concurrent president  of  the Philippine Cooperative Center.

                As a jolly and vivacious woman, she has earned the nickname, Normskie   that sounds like “may K” which in colloquial Filipino means “she has the capacity”, and this can actually be gleaned in her personality. She has the drive to give her best with passion, enthusiasm, dedication and sincerity to serve  and deliver what is expected of her.   She’s often been heard saying “mula sa puso ni Normskie, baby!” along with her wacky trademark in conveying “I work from the heart.”

                Normskie rose from the ranks of ordinary coop members and has built her leadership over time.  She has been with Tagum Cooperative for three decades, and has served 25 years  as a leader of the home-grown cooperative based in Tagum City where she settles with her family.

                Taking no shortcuts, she attended seven-days seminar 29 years ago just like the others who wanted to become a  member of Tagum Cooperative at that time. She was not loaded with much money when she came in as a coop member.  She was just then running a carenderia (eatery) business. What she had, was her intense passion to serve: the spirit she had developed as a Gagmayng Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) coordinator, catechist and church lector. 

                “I participated actively in Tagum Cooperative activities. I was  then convinced to run as an officer and I then got re-elected again and again,” she said.

(from Tagum Coop)

                In Her  25-year stint  as an active officer of Tagum Cooperative,  Normskie   came out five times as the chairperson.  Instituting reforms in 1995 amidst intense resistance among fellow coop officers was her greatest feat.   She looked at her come-back this year as God’s mission to check the gains of such struggle for reforms,and  to further push  the development Tagum Cooperative “to better serve  our members.” 

                “In my reflection, as if God is saying telling me to see  if the reforms we made are still there.”

                The system is in place for Tagum Cooperative to operate soundly but Normskie doesn’t want to sit on her laurels, nor does she like the cooperative to stay over confident about being the Most Outstanding Large Cooperative in 2012.  

“We are reviewing some of our policies to strengthen our services to our members,” she said.

Apart from its existing products and services from savings deposits, loans, member benefits,  and funecare services, Tagum Cooperative  is looking at the prospect of online banking.  It now uses automated teller machine (ATM) to dispense money as part of delivering improved services to its members, and that it now works on strengthening its human resource policies.

Tagum Cooperative has built wide network of alliance with Finance Organizations Achieving Certified Credit Union Standards (FOCCUS),  Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU), Mindanao Alliance for Self-help Society Southern Philippines Educational Cooperative Center (MASS SPECC) , CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, Model Cooperative Network, Philippine Cooperative Center, Metro South Coop Bank  and Asian Women in Cooperative Development Forum (AWCF). 

(from Tagum Cooperative)

 “My dream is for Tagum Cooperative to reach 100 years. It may not happen in my lifetime; we may be gone in this world, but Tagum Cooperative will continue to exist,”  she said.

Along with  the vision for centennial existence of Tagum Cooperative,  Normskie wish to see her gender and development advocacy  to flourish and to continue spelling a difference in the lives of coop members whom Tagum Cooperatives would like to experience joy and prosperity as they continue investing their trust and confidence.

Now with sustained budget, such advocacy has been enhanced and become known as Family Enrichment Program that talks topics beyond gender equality. It now tackles family affair,  spirituality, community involvement and volunteerism, violence against women,  and problems on drug dependence. 

Normskie  considers her work with Tagum Cooperative as an apostolate, believing that “it is an instrument of God to improve the lives of our members.”  She may find herself in a taxing situation doing several volunteer work,  but words of gratitude from coop members bring her solace and soothing feelings at  the end of the days work.

From Tagum Cooperative

                She’s glad to hear “our members say because of Tagum Cooperative we have food on our table; we are able to put up our house, send our children to school,  provide medical  needs of our ailing family members, repair our house.”

                She brings such joy and fulfillment beyond the walls of Tagum Cooperative as she keeps her thought tuned in on leaving good legacy, “on making a difference in the lives of people that I have met, touched, inspired and encouraged.”

                To  coop leaders, she leaves words of encouragement for them to become models of transformational leadership .  She advises them to “adhere to good governance, to become competent and passionate.”  

“Let’s do our assignment and leave a legacy,” she  said.  (PIA XI/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

Banay-banay farmers go techie

By Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

BANAY-BANAY, Davao Oriental Nov. 6 (PIA) -- Rice farmers used to recall instructions of their forefathers when solving problems on rice farming. 

That however is no longer the practice of farmers in the municipality of Banay-banay in Davao Oriental. They now access the internet, search the web for information and talk to experts either via videoconferencing or short messaging system (SMS). 

Their modern way of solving rice farming problems has made the Farmers’ Information Technology Services (FITS) Center of Banay-banay bagged this year’s Best Community e-Center (CeC) Award with a P100,000 cash reward given during this year’s 8th Knowledge e-Community Center (KeC) national conference held in Davao City. 

(Picture lifted from internet)

The award marks a sustained effort through the support of the municipal government under the leadership of Mayor Pedro Mejos who was recognized as a “CeC Champion” during the same occasion, for his support to the Cyber Village Project of FITS Banay-banay. 

FITS Manager Ester Solamo who now sits as the Municipal Agriculturist said the award came a long way from 2007 when Banay-banay FITS (a project of the Department of Science and Technology) first implemented the Cyber Village Program Phase I in rice-based barangay Caganganan in cooperation with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PHILRICE), the Open Academy for Philippine Agriculture(OPAPA) based in Nueva Ecija and the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP). 

The Cyber Village Program brings internet connection at the barangay level with the barangay hall as the connectivity site where rice farmers do online research on pest management, farm input supplies and marketing. 

Through it, they can also directly consult experts on particular rice farming concerns either through video-conferencing, SMS or internet calls. 

Solamo said the Cyber Village Program has played a crucial role in improving the rice productivity of Banay-banay which has long been known as one of the major rice producers in the Davao Region. It has a total of 2,161 hectares of rice farms devoted to commercial rice and certified seeds production. 

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) XI data on best replicable practices reveals in its documentation that the Cyber Village Program Phase I resulted in reduction in the volume of fertilizer applied by farmers who were into cyber research; increase in diversity of rice varieties grown; reduction in rice diseases; 15 percent increase in average yield of rice; and 100 percent use of certified seeds among cyber farmers. 

The cyber program was also found of help to teachers and students who were given the opportunity to access the internet in doing their research work particularly on School Technology and Entrepreneurship of the Philippines, on fertilizer computation, on the health benefits malunggay among others. 

The felt successes of the Cyber Village Phase I in Barangay Caganganan gave way to the fabrication of Banay-banay Mobile Internet Cab patterned after the “Pinoy Farmers Mobile Internet Bus” (M/B) of OPAPA. 

Inaugurated on April 22, 2009, the mobile IT cab of Banay-banay bears a slight from its model as it is capable of carrying eight laptops, instead of only four, accommodating more community users particularly rice farmers, students and even out-of-school youths (OSYs). 

(from internet)

Philrice-OPAPA provided four laptops while the four other laptops were solicited from local government officials of Davao Oriental, from the Department of Agriculture (DA) XI and from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD). 

While the mobile IT cab spreads sharing of internet access among rice communities, it limits access to cyber information as it visits rice-based barangays on scheduled basis. 

The need for a steady access to cyber information gives rise to the idea of soliciting assistance from the National Computer Center (NCC) for the establishment of Community e-Centers, giving birth to Cyber Village Phase II which covers five more rice-based barangays of Rang-ay, Cabangcalan, Mugbongcogon, Calubihan and Barangay Poblacion. 

Initially only three barangays have been given computer package from NCC through the Philippine CeC Program which provides recipients barangays four computer units and one unit of all-in-one printer capable scanning and copying. The rests are working ways to get internet connection through the assistance of FITS. 

As farmers in the six Cyber Village barangays have been enabled to access the internet for information, resulting in production increase and effective pest management, upland farmers are expressing their desire to get on line and be connected with experts, as well. 

Taking heed of such call, Solamo said the municipal government through the Municipal Agriculture Office is planning to connect the eight other barangays to the internet to gain fast access to reliable information. 

“Gusto din nila maging cyber village. (They also want to become cyber villages.)” he said. (PIA XI/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan) 

Exploring the banana beach

        Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

               

For us to convince tourists to come and visit our place, we should first spend time exploring our locality.  Surely, we can find a place of beauty to enjoy with our loved ones and friends. Discovering such place will prove that, indeed, it’s more fun in the Philippines.

                In Davao del Norte, the Banana Beach Resort stands out as a must-see place to visit and explore.  It lies within reach along the coastal area of Barangay Madaum in Tagum City which is just more than an hour ride from Davao City.

                The Banana Beach Resort takes its name from its location along the beaches of the 760-hectare banana plantation owned by Hijo Resources Corporation.  It primarily allows people  to enjoy the beach, but   it  also provides an opportunity for visitors to take a side trip  to the banana tissue culture plant of Hijo banana plantation.

                The resort’s coastline stretches 4.5 kilometers, giving guests a wide area either for beach volleyball, kayaking, skimboarding or boat riding.  They may also opt to do  building  sand castles just to enjoyably let time pass by.  River cruising can also be an option to take for seekers of water adventure.  Facing the Davao Gulf, the Banana Beach Resort also borders with Madaum River which is worth exploring  as it  treasures century-old mangrove trees.

                The  sea at the Banana Beach allures visitors to take a swim. They may yield to it or they may take the option to dip into the infinity swimming pool. Its  clear blue water appears to be somewhat flowing out to the sea. If swimming may not be a pleasurable moment for visitors, they can try hook-and-line fishing at “The Spot”  to  catch either Bangus, Kitang or Lapu-lapu for a fine dine at its  cottage built at the place.

            Visitors must not miss to see and explore the nearby 60-hectare  forest which Hijo Resources Corporation (HRC)has preserved in line with the thrust to “nurture nature today to benefit the generations tomorrow” as  what Chief Executive Officer Rosanna Tuason-Fores said.

 To commune with nature, visitors need not wait until they reach the forest.  Along the way, they can marvel at the towering coconut trees planted in orderly line.  While approaching the forest, they will be greeted by sights of monkeys  leisurely walking along the road.  On lucky occasions,  wild boars  are just within sight.

                My work assignment in Davao del Norte opens a number of opportunities for me to visit the Banana Beach several times.  I was there during a coastal clean up  early last year with members of the Philippine Coast Guard  and with media practitioners of Tagum City.  An exposure tour with student journalists in mid last year again brought me to the place. 

Discussion about the resort  in the office led our boss to schedule our  2011 Christmas team-building  at the Banana Beach Resort.  We took our  children with us during that activity which left wonderful memories of fun and enjoyment as we spent time playing at the resort’s playground.  The children went swimming  in the infinity pool and joined  tours to the forest and to The Spot.

I might have gone there for several times but the thought of going back there rouses a feeling of joy and excitement.   Knowing that the place is such a beauty and wonder, I feel proud of seeing it featured in one of the editions of Balitang K. 

There swells within me the urge to tell about the place.  Who  else can we expect to better  tell about the beauty of our place but  us?  But before taking such task, it is wise to put on the gear as local explorers: appreciate and then enjoy what we have in our place.     (Jean Duron Abangan))

Familiarizing Liboganon River

                

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte (PIA) – Seldom can we now hear reports about Davao del Norte flooding that reaches the national highway, the way it happened way back in 1980s or in 1990s. Despite such relief, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMCO) is still keeping its guards up against flood occurrences.

Last week of October, the Reduce the Risk (RDR) Rescue Teams of PDRRMO rolled their sleeves up as they took some members of the Davao del Norte media to a familiarization tour (fam-tour) of Liboganon River considered as one of the river basins in Mindanao.

It was not the usual sight-seeing, leisure tour. It became a true-to-life experience of river-watching as the tour fell on the day when tropical storm Ofel was expected to affect the eastern side of the country. There was moderate to heavy rainfall the night before the tour. Fortunately, flooding did not occur but Liboganon River turned out murky the next morning.

Rains did not bother our early morning trip to the river after PDRRMO Executive Officer Sonio Sanchez briefed us about the fam-tour.  Rescuers tugged along three rubber boats, each with a carrying capacity of 10 and one fiber boat with a capacity of seven.

Donned with lifejacket, we got into the rescue boats along the river bank in Barangay San Miguel in Tagum City.  Driven with 40 horsepower engine, the rubber boats swiftly maneuvered through the murky waters of Liboganon River while the 25 horse-powered fiber boat came along. On board the boards were 20 participants including the RDR rescuers and and Sanchez, their chief, and Provincial Information Chief Romulo Tagalo and his staff. 

Liboganon River is long and wide.  PDRRMO says that it follows a winding course estimated to stretch about 300 kilometers from Sitio Patil in far-flung Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong and empties into the Davao Gulf. Its width is more than 100 meters. When it overflows, its water rises more than 10 meters high from its normal level.

No wonder it created a real havoc when its waters overflowed late December 2011. Some said last year’s flooding was a little less lighter than the flooding occurrences way back in the 90s and 80s during which Liboganon River used to unleash and spawn floodwaters to the national highway, barring traffic flow, causing vehicles to get stuck.                       

Senior broadcast journalist Aurora Lozada, station manager of DXDN Radyo Ukay Tagum recalled how she waded through the flooded highway along Bincungan, Tagum City to monitor the situation and gather news reports.

At its normal state, Liboganon displays its fertile river banks which offer rich soil for fruit trees and bananas.  Birds fly along the course of the river and feed along the vegetation of reeds that abundantly grow at its banks. Only few were seen fishing at the Liboganon River during that fam-tour but children found thrill and excitement as they spent time boating and swimming at it.

Participants to the fam-tour also eventually found and encountered the most thrilling and exciting part of the activity at the river-mouth where the sea met the river. Rains poured, wind blew harder than usual, and waves surged high. 

They got wet. Still, they seemed relaxed with the presence of RDR rescuers.  Women participants, however, couldn’t hold their shrilling voice as they screamed in a mixture of excitement and a bit of fear when rubber boats crossed surging waves.   

At the command of Sanchez, the rubber boats and the fiber boat were led towards a river in Carmen (adjacent to Tagum City), to escape from the harsh sea. They got off along  Barangay La Paz to take their lunch.

They laughed at their mixed reactions of the experience which became an eye-opener to the urgent need for public support and cooperation to keep a close watch on the Liboganon River. (PIA-XI/Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

Grooming financially secured future leaders

Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

              I never thought that even children from ordinary families can become part of a millionaires group, until I recently attended the first general assembly of Tagum Cooperative Youth Laboratory Cooperative.

                I was expecting to see 15 to 24 years of age individuals. I was surprised. The sight of little children as young as five to below 18 years of age, met my eyes as I approached the assembly hall.  They were lining up for registration. They showed their passbook, got a registration coupon, then picked a little sling bag as token from Tagum Cooperative (TC).

                About 1,200 children, most of whom were with their mothers, came to join the activity which infected the mature guests with a child-like feeling. Everyone, even guests from national and local government offices and from the House of Congress, showed their wacky pose upon the egging on of Norma Pereyras, chairperson of the Board of Advisers of  TC  Youth Laboratory Cooperative.

                Groups of young savers

                The assembly participants were given their heyday on November 05 as young members of Tagum Cooperative.  After all, their sector has generated P25,586,951.10 savings deposits which is 3.69 percent of the P693,629,081 total savings deposits of Tagum Cooperative.

                The young savers  whose ages range from zero to below 18 years old belong to  the Youth Savers,  Power Teen,  Aflatoun   and  the Tagum Coop Youth Laboratory.   The young savers groups are fast-becoming a force to reckon with, especially in terms of savings. Their membership which totals  18,534 makes up 29 percent of the 63,837 total members of Tagum Cooperative.

                Started in early year 2000, the Power Teens and the Youth Savers draw the  biggest volume of savings of P25 million.  But Tagum Cooperative OIC General Manager Brendo Bayocot  foresees more savings to be drawn from elementary and secondary students as TC has adopted Aflatoun in cooperation with the Department of Education (DepEd) Tagum City Schools Division.

                Aflatoun is a “concept to  teach children about social values, and rights and responsibilities coupled with basic financial education.” Tested in India 18 years ago, the Aflatoun concept is also aimed at facilitating the “inclusion of Child Social and Financial Education into formal and informal education systems as a recognition of child’s rights.”

                DepEd Tagum City Schools Supt. Nenita Lumaad who also chairs the Board of Directors of Tagum Cooperative calls such Aflatoun implementation in Tagum City as Financial Literacy for the Youth (FLY). With TC as its major partner, DepEd Tagum is pilot-testing it in  seven  Tagum City public elementary schools particularly in  Rizal,  Mankilam,  Pilot, La Filipina, Laureta, Apokon and Catalan.

                Aflatoun currently draws 2,167 savers from the pilot schools.  Its membership is expected to grow fast as TC plans to spread Aflatoun coverage next year, requiring each branch to adopt one to three schools in its location.

                Bayocot reveals that rolling out Aflatoun in  schools is sort of just a social responsibility undertaking of Tagum Cooperative.  TC has already spent about P300,000 in implementing Aflatoun since June this year,  TC Youth Program Officer Clyjenee  Dairo said.   TC shoulders the production teachers’ manuals of FLY applying  the Aflatoun concept,   and the printing of passbooks and deposit slips. 

Social benefits

Lumaad admits that Aflatoun is costly to implement. But she is looking at building a community of savers more than just raking in immediate return-of-investment.  She remains optimistic  that TC still can reap real gains, in the long run, not just in terms of money but social capital. 

                “They will also become very good savers and good payers because of the training that we have given them” she said.

                As an educator Lumaad puts in a lot of value to the essence learning that Aflatoun brings.  The simple filling out of a deposit slip reinforces reading and mathematical skills aside from the financial planning and budgeting lessons instilled among students and pupils in schools where Aflatoun is being implemented.

                Lumaad is encouraging parents to reflect on the saving enthusiasm of  the young savers.  She is hoping that the Financial Literacy Program for the Youth  would be adopted not just by the school but by the community. 

             “Once the community owns the program it will continue” she said.  “If  ang  mga bata maka save, how much more the parents?,” she poses the challenge for parents to live by the practice of saving.

              Aside from molding savers, TC is  also grooming cooperative leaders  through its Youth Laboratory Cooperatives  established in Tagum City National High School and in Imelda Elementary School (also in Tagum City).  The youth laboratory cooperatives are a miniature organizations  of Tagum Cooperative. They have their own board of directors and committees.

Future coop leaders

Pereyras pictures the youth laboratory cooperatives as a training grounds for young members to become future cooperative leaders. 

            “We want them to know how to manage a cooperative while also teaching them right values and showing them right lifestyle.”

            In most of her speaking engagements Pereyras often speaks a mantra saying “live below your means” . TC is also advocating such principle among members of the Youth Laboratory Cooperative. “They should also know how to do financial planning and budgeting, though they’re still young,”  she said.

            As Youth Laboratory Cooperative officers and members encourage savings  among their fellows, they are also expected to “walk their talk”, and to show in  their way of life and in their dealings with people the value they’ve learned  from Tagum Cooperative.

          “Leaders should save not just money but also values and principles in life because as leaders, you cannot give what don’t have,”  Pereyras said.

           Members of  the Board of Directors of Tagum Cooperative are united behind the programs for the youth.  They are putting at stake substantial investment, based on well calculated risk principle, for  the  welfare  of  the young members of Tagum Cooperative. 

         Tagum Cooperative has made a significant dent in making a difference on the lives of people in its community.  As of October, 2011, it  posted P1.39 billion net asset  and a net surplus of P88. 7 million.

         As it continues to seek improvement in the lives of its members,  it now  flies as the “wind beneath the wings” of young people.  It wants to become part of their journey towards becoming future leaders who are financially secured, who lives in a right way  with right values in life. (PIA 11/jean duron-abangan)                

­Feature

Dreaming Enterprise

Jeanevive Duron-Abangan

Dreaming for improvement in life is a free enterprise. This desire has inspired most micro entrepreneurs to scale up their enterprises.  They dream big despite their old age and lack of finances.  They remain unfazed despite the absence of technological expertise.

They’re glad of the One-Town One-Product (OTOP) program for fanning the flame of their desire. It assists them in striking improvements of their products which serve as their vehicle towards the realization of their dreams.

In a field visit with officers of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao del Norte field office, I met OTOP producers of Tikog handicrafts,  banana chips, vinegar and banana flour in the municipalities of New Corella,  Asuncion and Kapalong.

Grass into mats

Our first stop was at the simple abode of Engr. Joaquin Ilagan in Barangay Limbaan, New Corella.  Little did I know that the man in his 60s is the producer of Tikog mats exclusively sold at SM Malls nationwide.

 

He  also weaves Tikog  into hats, bags, hammocks, lamp-stand and slippers.  He vies not only for local and national markets, but also for international markets. DTI sends him to showcase Philippine-made products during national and international trade fairs .

A mechanical engineer by profession, he has retired early from government service as a worker of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).  For 18 years now, he devotes his time and energy into his Tikog handicraft products that bear  the trade name, Silagan Handicraft.

Together with his wife Clara Silagan who will soon retire from her government work  as the Alternative Learning System (ALS) District Coordinator of New Corella,  he is  dreaming of crossing countries with his Tikog mats and handicrafts.

“Banig lang ang akong gisaligan. (I am banking only on my mats),”  he said.

               

He hangs on to his dream  though the local supply of Tikog is dwindling as swampy areas where  such grass grows, have been planted with bananas.

Silagan now gets a 50-kilo supply of Tikog locally in a month.  He buys much of his Tikog raw materials from Kalingayan,  Bayugan in Agusan. He continues to look for more supply to meet the demand for his Tikog mats and handicrafts.

After listening to the story of his feat as one of the members of the Philippine Exhibitors, we turned our way to Buklad in  the Municipality Asuncion to  see how  members of Buclad Tribal Council were progressing in their vinegar and coco-shell handicraft-making.  

Waste water turned vinegar

We were met by the young Mandaya  chieftain of Buclad Tribal Council, Joel Andoy, 41 years of age.   He confessed of having dreamed of bringing forth a much better life for his tribal council members among whom were Dibabawon,  Mangguwangan,  Muslim other than Mandaya.

Indigenous women in Buklad used to have  no productive undertakings, but now they are into vinegar and coco-shell accessories production.  This is an offshoot to the partnership that the tribal council has tied up with St. Mary’s College Business Resource Center (SMC-BRC), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and DTI.

A vinegar production house now stands in their community, making use of the coconut juice that used to be just thrown away when producing copra.  Mang Bernard Aquino, 66 years of age, goes around the  nearby coconut plantations to collect  the coco juice to be fermented into vinegar. While some women helps in fermenting and the bottling of vinegar, others are into production of coco shell-craft made into accessories and handicraft items.

“Kung mag tapok-tapok sila karon, aduna nay panginabuhian  nga gibuhat. (When they come together now, they are into livelihood production.),” Andoy said as he conveyed thanks to partner agencies  which extended values education and  entrepreneurship training  to  the  members of his tribal council.

After Buclad, we pushed our way to Barangay Semong in  the Municipality Kapalong  to know more about the OTOP venture of AMS Employees Fresh Fruit Producers Cooperative (AMSEFFPCO).  We were met by AMSEFFPCO Chairperson Anselma Ronquillo who was then entertaining visitors from New Zealand.

Fresh banana to flour

Aside from producing fresh bananas for export , AMSEFFPCO widens its business ventures to food-grade flour production to make the most of the huge market demand.  It used to supply the  Universal Food Corp (UFC) about 60 tons of food-grade flour from 2007 to 2009. Ronquillo wishes such demand to come again as it means more business opportunities for the cooperative.

            AMSEFFPCO is working to get a Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) certification as proof of assurance that the flour which it is producing is beyond doubt:  safe for public consumption. AMSEFFPCO eyes not only the big food companies but the supermarkets so it can widely sell its banana flour which bears the trade name, “Musa”.

            While complying with the stringent standards of BFAD, Ronquillo takes comfort from the support given by OTOP cooperating agencies particularly DTI and DOST which have continually assisted AMSEFFPCO improve its product as well as its labeling. Department of Agriculture-Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) is  also awarding it a P1.5 million worth solar dryer .

           While discussing flour,  I thought of asking her about banana chips production.  Ronquillo, however,  referred me to Aling Yeyeng, an AMSEFFPCO member who, Ronquillo said, got so serious of such venture.

             

Banana chipper

“Bisan ug tiguwang nako ma’am,  gusto pa ko molambo akong kinabuhi (Though old, I still  want to improve my life.)

            Aling Yeyeng told us about having acquired a machine for banana chips production. She expressed gladness of the assistance from DOST which helped her with product labeling as she showed us the list of her orders for Manila and for local cafeterias.

            However, she has the same fate with AMSEFFPCO. She needs to get  the BFAD certification before she can commercially mass produce and sell in supermarkets her Yeyeng Banana Chips .

               

Lazaga whom we fondly called “Ma’am Nice” took me to just few of more than 30 OTOP entrepreneurs in Davao del Norte.  Lazaga explained that DTI registers under OTOP program those entrepreneurs engaged in the production, processing , marketing  and services related to  the featured product in a town or city.

Other than the towns we visited, Talaingod banners Cardava Banana as its OTOP;  Braulio E. Dujali, organic rice; Island Garden City of Samal, mango;  San Isidro, cacao; Tagum City, banana chips. Panabo City  along with Sto. Tomas, Carmen are into banana flour production.

I may not have gotten in touch with other OTOP entrepreneurs, but  I have taken a glimpse of how they valiantly push for the improvement of their micro enterprise. Their  hearts  are filled with hopes that their lives would get better as they continuously upgrade their products. (Jeanevive Duron-Abangan, PIA-11)

Tagum Coop tops in financial literacy

Home-grown Tagum Cooperative recently received its newest award as the nation’s leading cooperative in implementing a financial literacy program in schools.

         

 Tagum Cooperative Youth  Program Officer Clyjenee Dairo this morning revealed that Tagum Cooperative was cited as  the “2011 Top Aflatoun Cooperative”  during the 35th general assembly of the National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) and 11th Coop Congress on May 25 in Cebu City.

       

   Among the 100  Aflatoun cooperative implementers,  Tagum Cooperative was cited for its active and well-supported implementation of the financial literacy program which had solicited a strong backing from the Department of Education Tagum City Schools Division.

    

      Aflatoun is a concept of “teaching children about social values, and rights and responsibilities coupled with basic financial education.”

       Tested in India 18 years ago, the Aflatoun concept is also aimed at facilitating the “inclusion of Child Social and Financial Education into formal and informal education systems as a recognition of child’s rights.”

      Tagum Cooperative Board of Directors chairperson, Norma Pereyras cited the Aflatoun as one of the major youth programs of Tagum Cooperative  which aims to instill savings consciousness among children and youth whom it wants to mold as “financially secured leaders who can make a difference.”         

      DepEd Tagum City Schools Division Superintendent  Nenita Lumaad calls  the Aflatoun implementation in Tagum City as Financial Literacy for the Youth (FLY)  which  the division started rolling out in seven Tagum City public schools in July last year.

  

    Tagum Cooperative with DepEd Tagum City Schools Division pilot-tested it in  Tagum City public elementary schools particularly in  Rizal,  Mankilam,  Pilot, La Filipina, Laureta, Apokon and Catalan.

  

    From 2,167 in November last year,  Aflatoun membership reached 4,567 members as of March this year, generating P1.1 million savings.  

  

    The figure, however, is just a fraction of the P30,664,122 total savings (as of March 2012) from the 24,199 young savers of Tagum Cooperative.

   

   Dairo, however,  projected Aflatoun membership and savings to pick up this school year 2012-2013 as Tagum Cooperative  sets to roll out to six more public schools in Davao City, particularly in central schools of Mintal, Tugbok, Talomo and elementary schools of San Roque, Porras, and in Don Juan Elementary School.

  

    “We are targeting 90 percent membership of the total population of pupils in (Aflatoun) project sites,” she said in an interview.

  

     Tagum City DepEd Schools Division plans of bringing  the Aflatoun Program to public seven secondary schools in the city now that  a module of teaching it among high school students has already been produced.

   

   Lumaad  looks at financial literacy as a shift  from honing students to become mere employees but employers as well. She wants to  arm students  with skills they can bank on to become financially secure aside from excelling academically.  

     Meanwhile, Lumaad recalled how Aflatoun started in Tagum City as she noted the financial difficulties among public school teachers.

  

   “They didn’t know how to budget their money,” she recalled her observation among teachers in her division. “As it would be too late to teach the teachers, we thought of instilling financial literacy among the children,” she said.

    After 11 years in implementation, Aflatoun  is seen to have etched savings consciousness among its elementary-pupil members . 

  

  “If they receive money on special occasions, they now think of how much to save instead of thinking what to buy,”  she said citing testimonies of Aflatoun members in one of the Aflatoun educational activities

  

   In regularly collecting savings deposits in schools, Tagum Cooperative roving teller Syvel Condor also noted  that Aflatoun members  have come to learn to fill in deposits at an early age, and that they are regularly putting in savings to their accounts.

  

   “They fill in deposit slips, we enter their savings and print them on their own passbooks, be they P5.00 or few pesos from their daily allowances,” she said. (PIA-XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)