Fight global warming? Plant a tree. . .

One of the most alarming problem currently experienced globally is the climate change or simply global warming. It is the increase in the average temperature of Earth’s near- surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation in our present time with warming rate increased by three times. This effect has been caused by the ever increasing emission of the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and other harmful gases to the atmosphere. This disastrous effect has been brought by human development, industrialization and modernization neglecting its negative impact to the environment. The simple farming system of the marginal farmer imploring the slash and burn method also contibutes the ill-effect to nature. The ultimate effect, however has recently been witnessed by humanity; the record-high precipitation, super-typhoons and floodings, hurricanes and other devastating natural calamities had already been experienced not only by Filipinos but also in other parts of the globe.

In order to share even a very minimal contribution to the global effort to correct this problem, the CLAD/DISOP assisted organizations has conducted a synchronized tree planting activities last September 26, 2009. Planting of trees both in the mangrove areas as well as in the hinterlands has been identified by the group as one of the important moves to improve the considered carbon-sink in our surroundings- the trees. Trees during their photosynthetic process give off oxygen which is essential for human life existence on earth as well as absorb carbon dioxide. Hence, greater tree population means greater carbon dioxide absorption. Is it not that the Creator has long before installed this balance of nature before human existence, and yet due to greed the human whom entrusted by God over His creation is also responsible for its ruins. We must try to learn our lesson before its too late.

Hillside Farming Technology Seminar Conducted

CO Tony Nierras and the rest of CLAD personnel helped in demonstrating to participants the proper use of A-Frame

Participants were urged to use the gadget on their own

Participants planted hedgerows using kakawate twigs

Mr. John Baring , one of the Operation Coordinator of CLAD delivered a lecture to the coop members

Men and women coop members who actually tilled their farm attended the seminar

Participants were divided into two groups and prepared their own A-Frame for contour line determination

One of the youngest organization supported by CLAD is the Garrido Credit Cooperative located at Brgy Garrido of the Municipality of Calubian. It is among the few mountain barangays covered by the project whose general membership includes members of the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) which is a catholic group as well as the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC). The coop members belonging to different religious groups worked hand-in-hand in order to improve their living condition as well as jointly search for the solutions to the common problems they experienced. Among the most common problem which the CLAD technologists and even the recipients identified it as a problem that needs immediate attention is the fast degradation of farm soil due to soil erosion. Brgy Garrido is made up of hilly lands and its barangay center is located uphill. Farm lots of coop members are usually made up of hilly terrains and due to continuous tilling of lands soil fertility is therefore sacrificed. The effect of soil erosion and soil fertility problem can be visibly seen by the crop being produced by the farmers. In fact, they can even hardly produce corn out of their lands.

The urgency to make interventions and the result of continuous consultation of CLAD personnel with members of Garrido Credit Cooperative had made possible the conduct of seminar on hillside farming. Last September 22-23, 2009 CLAD personnel had conducted the hillside farming seminar, delivered lectures to the members of coop and trained them the proper way of establishing contour lines and contour hedgerows. With the absence of ipil-ipil seeds, kakawate branches were used as hedgerows. Members of the cooperative gained the knowledge of establishing their own hillside farms by the use of improvised A-frame. They planned to establish and convert all the farms into hillside farms and become a compact hillside farm.

DISOP Philippines Coordinator Visited Calubian

Kathleen assessed the impact of DISOP assistance to the members of SVCC

Members of St. Vincent Credit Coop met with Kathleen

Members of CAPPCo joined Kathleen in her farm visit at Tagharigue

Kathleen visited the farm at Brgy Tagharigue

Mr John Bariing Sr, Agustin Dignos and Kathleen Deckmyn at the meeting with the Officers of PetFaMPC

Kathleen delivered inspiring message to the members of the differrent coops

The DISOP Philippines Coordinator in the person of Mrs Kathleen Deckmyn-Cordero has found some times in visiting once again its partner organization in Calubian- the CLAD INC and its beneficiary-organizations. The purpose of her visit was to check about the progress of the different livelihood projects undertaken by the members of the different cooperatives as well as to meet the new recepients covered by the project which are the members of the cooperatives of Brgys Garrido, Abanilla, Petrolio and Tagharigue. Her presence has bousted the eagerness of the members to do well on their respective undertakings and to make them presentable to anybody concern.

Although the visit was just a short one, the whole day of September 8 was quite a busy day since we were able to visit four sites and met six organizations since aside from the four new organizations, Villanueva and Kabicolan group were also present during here visit in Villanueva Chapel.

Leadership and Value Reorientation Seminar Conducted

Mr. Agustin Dignos discussed the rationale of the seminar

The speaker, Mrs Cora C. Dadizon of DA-RFU 8, Tacloban City

Participants answered the questionnaires as part of the workshop

Participants were having a workshop to determine their leadership potential

Last May 28-29, 2009, a trainors training on Leadership and Value Reorientation Seminar was conducted with participants coming from the nine different cooperatives assisted by CLAD, Inc. The seminar was held at the TESDA Cafeteria with Mrs. Cora C. Dadizon as our speaker coming from DA Regional Office 8, Tacloban City. The seminar was so useful in determining the real personality of a man especially the members of the different cooperatives through the usage of some questionnaires which were answered by the participants. Through answering the tool, a person can be identified what part of his brain is really working because the brain was divided into two parts, the left and the right part. Distinct characteristics could be observed whether what part of the person’s brain does really work. The other test administered was the Dr. Phils Test which really determine the deeper personality of a person through answering a ten-item test.

Another things discussed were the characteristics of a good leader and how this leaders become the primemover of the different organizations or cooperatives to become successful. A workshop was held to determine the leadership potentials and characteristics of every participants.

To further disseminate the information learned, re-echo seminars on leadership and value reorientation were conducted in two clusters, one was held in Villanueva Elementary School which was conducted last August 5, 2009 with the participants from the four different groups such as the Garrido Credit Coop, Kabicolan Credit Coop, St. Vincent Credit Coop and Villanueva Credit Coop attended. Mr. Agustin Dignos, the CLAD Operation Coordinator served as the lone speaker.

The other cluster was held at Brgy Ul-og with Sr San Roque Credit Coop serving as the host. The seminar was conducted last August 11, 2009. The other cooperative who joined the second cluster were the Petrolio MPC, Calubian Agri-Products Producers Coop, Nipa-Calubian Credit Coop and the Katilingbanon Multipurpose Cooperative. Participants were being challenged by the speaker to become instrumental for the needed change not only for the benefit of their organizations but also to the entire nation as well.

Project Management Seminar Held in Cebu

The author as one of the participant of the seminar; it was really a busy day…

Mr Nierras, Community Organizer of CLAD texting while encoding

Some participants toke a pose on the stairways of the Sarroza International Hotel

A total of 38 participants attended the Annual DISOP Sponsored seminar which was held at the Sarrosa Internationl Hotel and Residential Suite in Cebu City last July 20-24, 2009. The participants came from the different DISOP partner-organizations/NGO which are of various discipline and expertise which include micro-finance, sustainable agriculture and resource management, cooperative organization and assistance among others. With Project Development and Management as the center of the discussion, seventeen NGOs had sent their delegation for the seminar with the common objective which is to improve the operation of every group.

One of the important lesson I learned being one of the participants was the importance of the monitoring and evaluation (M & E) activity of every project which the NGO had undertaken. The M & E tool introduced is for me a very much useful tool the managers should always think of to ensure the success of the project. The M & E phase is the often neglected phase of the project hence usually it is not being funded. This monitoring and evaluation activity should be given enough importance and should always be incorporated in the project because it is a significant tool to measure the impact of the project after its completion.