PDAP
The Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines Inc (formerly known as Philippine Development Assistance Programme, Inc.), started as a consortium of Filipino and Canadian non-government organizations (NGOs). It was founded in 1986 as a non-stock, non-profit organization, to become an effective instrument in reducing poverty and inequity in the Philippines. PDAP prides itself in having 6 member networks with more than 300 community-based members and partner NGOs. PDAP has distinguished itself in promoting and developing rural enterprises for poverty reduction and as a tool in promoting peace in conflict-affected areas.
Sitangkai Seaweed Masterplan
The crafting of the Sitangkai Seaweed Industry Master Plan traces its roots to the Workshop on the Seaweed Industry in Sitangkai held in Cebu City in August 2005. Organized by the Municipal Government of Sitangkai and several development organizations, the workshop was eventually followed by the conduct of a Baseline Study on the status of the Seaweed farmers in Sitangkai and a series of consultation involving various stakeholders of the industry and interested organizations.
The Sitangkai Seaweed Industry Master Plan is a medium term development plan that is characteristically comprehensive in scope yet fixed firmly on the most important industry in the area: Seaweed Industry.
The direction of the Master Plan is as follows:
1. Directly benefit the farmers by increasing their income;
2. Improve the standard of living;
3. Improve the delivery of Basic Social Services;
4. Develop Sitangkai into a First Class Municipality that is not totally dependent on the Internal Revenue Allotment; and
5. Generate revenue from the Industry.
The Master Plan employs a number of interrelated Strategic Options which are anchored on the five (5) Development Imperatives of Sitangkai, namely: Favorable Environment for Agribusiness; Local Governance; Basic Social Services; Natural Resource Management; and, Power, Infrastructure and Transportation. The Strategic Options are further translated into Programs and Projects that are designed to respond the four-point Development Agenda for Sitangkai, namely: Quality Life; Global Competence; Industry-driven Economy; and, Peace and Development.
The programs and projects of the Master Plan will benefit not only the seaweed farmers, who are among the primary target beneficiaries of the plan, but the whole of Sitangkai as well since the programs and projects will address important concerns pertaining to Resource Tenure Improvement, Social Infrastructure Building and Strengthening, Partnership Building, Productivity Systems Development and Marketing, Local Governance, Gender and Reproductive Health, Peace and Development, Provision of Social Services, Ecological Nurturance, and Infrastructure Support.