News and Events

^{_{CODESPA Country Manager Carolina Unzeta and PDAP Programs Manager Restie Male
during the launching ceremony at the nursery project site
in Sitio Campingganon, Maribojoc, San Benito, Surigao del Norte. With them is Mr. May Luison of BFAR – Surigao del Norte.}}

As part of the SEAWEED Project in the Caraga Region, CODESPA Country Manager Carolina Unzeta and PDAP Programs Manager Restie Male led the launching of the seaweed nurseries for Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur last March 16, 2012.  A total of eight (8) nurseries, to be managed by the 18 seaweed farmer organizations, will be established in the towns of San Benito, Dapa, Lianga and Barabo.  The nurseries are envisioned to address the need for quality cultivars for the whole year.  They will likewise serve as a mechanism for the technical learning and continuous education of seaweed farmers with the current seaweed farming technology.

A total of 68 farmers from the 18 PO partners attended the three–day Leadership and Management Skills Training facilitated by PDAP in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur last March 9 – 11, 2012 and March 15 – 17, 2012, respectively.  The training is part of the capacity development interventions of the SEAWEED Project for the PO partners in the Caraga region.

^{_{Mr. Panganoron and Cherlita Camino of the Manyayay Seaweeds Planters and Farmers Assn (MSPFA)
in one of the workshops during the training in Lianga, Surigao del Sur.}}

Through this training, the participants were expected to implement what they have learned in order enhance their organizational and enterprise capacities as they manage their respective organizations.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) – Caraga Region committed to support the initiative to formthe Seaweed area clusters together with PDAP through the latter’s SEAWEED project which is funded by AECID through Fundacion CODESPA.  In a meeting with DTI and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) last February 10, 2012, Engr. Emily Calo, Chief of the DTI Business Development Division, disclosed that there were already plans before to organize the seaweeds clusters but failed to materialize due to several constraints.  But now that the significance of the creation of cluster for the seaweed farmers had been completely recognized, this plan would now push through.

As an initial action to this commitment, different government agencies in the region such as DTI, BFAR, DA, DAR and NEDA, the local government units of Barobo, Lianga, Dapa and San Benito, as well as the private sector and the seaweeds PO partners in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, convened last February 16, 2012 in Butuan City for the Cluster Inception Workshop.  This workshop gained positive responses from the PO partners since they consider the formation of area clusters as a parallel support mechanism to the seaweed farmers.  The drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding, which delineates the tasks and responsibilities of each stakeholder, was also seen by the PO partners as necessary since it will help fill in the gaps between production and marketing.  This could be a vital step to upscale the seaweeds production given the active involvement of the government sector in these project areas.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved on February 17, 2012 the Amended Articles of Incorporation of PDAP, particularly the change in its full name to Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines Inc. 

The change was made to better reflect PDAP’s character and purpose and current thrusts and priorities.  It was initiated last year at a time when the new and current business plan took effect following its earlier approval by the PDAP Board of Trustees and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).  CIDA provided financial support to the PRIME Program (which was successfully completed on March 31, 2011) which included the development of the PDAP business plan.

Industrial Agriculture Advocates Say Organic Farming Cannot Produce Enough Food for 7 Billion People. A Group of Rice Farmers in the Philippines is Proving Them Wrong.

By Robin Broad and John Cavanagh

Danilo Atilano leads us onto the moist soil from which his waist-high stalks of rice grow. It is four o’clock in the afternoon. He has selected this time to meet because this is when “the vegetation is wet with dew and comes alive with insects.” In Hollywood, spiders star in horror movies; in Atilano’s rice field, they are “friends” doing good deeds like eating larvae of “bad” stem borers. We point with concern to bright red snail eggs on the soil. Atilano shrugs them off. Snails are pests during planting, he explains, because they eat young rice-shoots. Close to harvest, they become weed-eating friends. Read More...

Typhoon Sendong caused significant casualties and severe property damages in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in mid-December last year.  Thousands of families and individuals were affected leaving them with no basic necessities like food, water, shelter, and clothing.  As an immediate response, the Philippine Development Assistance Programme, Inc. (PDAP) made a cash grant of Php 10,000.00 to the Xavier Science Foundation, Inc. (XSF),-a member of the Association of Foundations (AF) which in turn is a member of PDAP-in support of the Cagayan de Oro-based foundation’s relief operations.

The Xavier Science Foundation, headed by Mr. Roel Ravanera, who also happens to be PDAP’s Chairperson, was one of the first organizations which stepped in to provide relief assistance to the typhoon victims.  XSF is now currently undertaking rehabilitation efforts in Cagayan de Oro.  These efforts include housing assistance that will be supported by community building/organizing and livelihood support, among others.

By: Jose Regulus Ortega

Typhoon Sendong which inflicted heavy death tolls and damages to the cities of Iligan and Cagayan de Oro last December 16, 2011 also affected several coastal towns of Surigao del Sur. The seaweed industry in the area was greatly affected as strong winds and waves hit the locality.  Reports from the local government unit of Barobo revealed that 160 tons of juvenile seedlings and 40 tons of harvestable seaweeds were damaged valued at Php 4.4 million.

A family inspecting the cultivar lines a day after Typhoon Sendong hit the locality

Among those who were affected in the area are PDAP’s 11 PO partners in the SEAWEED Project in the Caraga Region.  Their farms were destroyed as seaweeds were cut – off from the tangled cultivar lines bringing them down to the sea bottom with no chances of recovery.  Most of the farmers were saddened even more since harvests were to be made just a few days after the destructive typhoon.  Initial assessment of the field staff showed that there are still available seedlings from the locality that could still be used for replanting and new ropes for cultivar lines are just needed for them to be able to start anew.

By: Evangeline Faburada

Last November 19, 2011, the people of Tandu Owak, Sibutu, Tawi - tawi celebrated “SHeG Day” which is part of the Child Focused Community Development Project initiated by PDAP in partnership with KnH.  This whole day activity was meant to give recognition to the importance of women and children in the community.  It also aimed to develop camaraderie among members of the different Self Help Groups (SHeG).

The celebration started with a parade from the bridge entrance of Tandu Owak to its center.  After the parade, a short program was held wherein Ms. Evangeline Faburada, PDAP Program Officer, explained the rationale behind the activity.  This was later on followed by various activities such as a group singing competition, participated in by different SHeGs and several parlor games, prepared by the Community Development Facilitators (CDFs) for the children to enjoy.

Barangay officials of Tandu Owak were all present to witness and show support to the activity.  Brgy. Chairman Edwarden expressed his gratitude to PDAP and KnH on their initiative to gradually open the minds of his people to the relevance and significance of the Self Help approach.  He also mentioned that in his three terms of service as Brgy. Chairman, it was his first time to witness such an activity with an overwhelming number of participation from women and that he hopes to see more of these in their community in the future.

Indeed, the SHeG Day celebration had been an unforgettable experience in the lives of the people of Tandu Owak.  The individuals felt the sense of belongingness in a group and in the community.  Women were able to realize that they do deserve a good break from their stressful daily routines of doing household chores. As Hja. Hajiba Maing, a Bajau from Tandu Kasamuhan, shared, “The activity was a consoling break from the routine household work that I do since I got married at an early age.  On that day, I forgot that I had a problem.”  Also, the children were able to finally relate and play as normal kids since they do not usually get the chance to do so with the reality that at an early age, helping with the livelihood of their families had been their priority.

By Jose Regulus Ortega

PDAP in partnership with Fundacion CODESPA and AECID, facilitated a three – day Enterprise Development Training in Surigao del Sur and Surigao del Norte last October 19 – 21, 2011 and November 10 – 12, 2011, respectively, as part of the move to step up the Capacity Development (CapDev) interventions of its SEAWEED Project for the people’s organizations (POs).  The training, which was participated in by a total of 70 farmers coming from 18 PO partners, aimed to enhance the participants’ competencies and capacities in managing enterprises not just as individuals but also as organizations developing seaweeds as an industry.

Participants were introduced to ENTREFARM Game modules which were customized for seaweeds farming.  These modules were used in running through different simulation exercises in: Basic Farming Cycle (Module 1); Negotiations and Cooperativism (Module 2) and; Processing (Module 3).

Participants with the facilitators during one of the simulation exercises of the ENTREFARM Game Modules

The training gained positive responses from the participants.  As one of the participants from Surigao del Sur shared, “Iisod at the start pero nindot kaau pagnakuha.  Nindot labi na ug plastar sa cash in ug expense. Maayo nasumban para sa negosyo.” (There was difficulty at the start; however, it became enjoyable when we got the hang of it given the hands – on recording of simulated financial transactions. This could be applied in business.)

By: Hector Tuburan

Fifty two (52) men and twenty four (24) women seaweed farmers participated in a 3 – day training on Seaweed Farming Technology Enhancement held in Lianga, Surigao del Norte last September 19 – 21, 2011 and in Dapa, Siargao, Surigao del Sur last September 23 – 25, 2011.  The training was conducted as part of PDAP’s ‘Seaweeds Enterprise Action Working for Empowerment and Economic Development’ (SEAWEED) project in the Caraga region.

The SEAWEED Project, which was started last April 2011 in partnership with Fundacion CODESPA and AECID, aims to scale – up the seaweed industry in the Caraga region through the adoption of new farming technology.  The project is expected to increase and improve the household income of seaweed farmers thereby helping eradicate poverty in the project areas.

Through the 3 – day training, seaweed farmers were introduced to the new seaweed farming technology.  Eight (8) seaweed nurseries will be established as a mechanism for the continuous education of seaweed farmers on seaweed farming.

Since the Caraga region is considered as highly vulnerable to natural calamities, the participants of the said training were oriented on the issues of climate change and disaster risk reduction. This raised the farmers’ awareness on the possible effects of climate change to their livelihood and at the same time help them come up with mitigating measures to ensure the viability of their seaweed farms in times of disasters and calamities.

The Philippine Development Assistance Programme, Inc. (PDAP) held its Annual Membership Meeting last September 9, 2011.  The members unanimously approved to change its name to Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines, Inc. (PDAP).  The new name aptly reflects the organization’s character as an institution as well as its current thrusts.  PDAP will officially carry the new name as soon the necessary regulatory approval is secured.  In the same meeting, the following were elected to the Board of Trustees:

• Mr. Benjamin Abadiano – Assisi Development Foundation, Inc. (ADFI)
• Ms. Juliet Bucoy – National Council for Social Development (NCSD)
• Mr. Rafael Lopa – Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
• Ms. Divina Luz Lopez - The Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA)
• Mr. Nathaniel Don Marquez – Asian Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
• Mr. Roel Ravanera - Association of Foundations (AF)
• Mr. Roberto Ansaldo – Independent Trustee

In the Organizational Board Meeting held on the same day, the following were elected as PDAP officers:

• Mr. Roel Ravanera – Chairperson
• Mr. Roberto Ansaldo – Vice Chairperson
• Mr. Nathaniel Don Marquez - Treasurer
• Ms. Divina Luz Lopez – Secretary