Untitled - AFOS

FOREWORD
AFOS’ Emergency Response and Rehabilitation Project had indeed, provided comfort for the
distressed!
Basic needs for emergency relief were provided on time. But the project did not just stop after
providing the much needed emergency relief goods, instead its work continued on to enable the
victims of calamity to rise up from the ruins and engage in new activities and livelihood that would
sustain them. The light of hope was bestowed when living seemed dark and miserable.
This, of course, was not undertaken by AFOS alone. It was accomplished with the help and
support of many generous people, groups and institutions from the local and international arena.
Thus, we would like to thank the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation &
Development (BMZ), sequa, donors from the Bund Katholischer Unternehmer (BKU) and other
German organizations, the International Labor Organization (ILO), our trainors from the
Banilad Center for Professional Development (BCPD), Primary Structures Educational
Foundation (PSEFI) SKILLS, DA-ATI in Leyte and Rise Above Foundation. We are also very
grateful for the active support of the local government units (LGUs) in Ormoc and in Bantayan.
The AFOS-Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) WE CAN Visayas & Caraga
(Working for the Enhancement of the Chamber & Association Network in the Visayas & Caraga)
Project Team, which led the implementation of relief and rehabilitation efforts, was greatly
complemented by the active participation of the CCCI Bantayan Chapter and the Ormoc
Chamber of Commerce & Industry (OrCham).
Through the coordinated efforts of these institutions and the project management team, our
Emergency Response and Rehabilitation Project enabled the calamity victims in Ormoc City, Leyte
and Bantayan Island to get back to “life” and move forward for the improvement of their living
conditions.
Still, there is much to be done as our project beneficiaries move on in their quest for economic
viability. Initial rehabilitation and livelihood development for the affected communities has been
completed but the need remains huge to ensure the sustainability of these initiatives.
A. Introduction
Bantayan Island, Cebu and a major part of Ormoc
City, Leyte were among the hard-hit areas with the
coming of Super-typhoon ‘Haiyan’ (Yolanda) in
November 2013.
Deaths, injuries, wide-scale
damage to properties, infrastructure and livelihood
sources made life among the local residents gravely
difficult. Even with the presence of numerous local,
national and international assistance organizations,
help was wanting and direly needed by many calamity
victims especially in Bantayan Island and some remote
areas in Ormoc City. It should be noted that Ormoc
was hit by another typhoon on 6 December 2014
(typhoon Ruby or Hagupit) which registered a 90%
damage on farm crops and structures after only a year
of rehabilitation from Typhoon Haiyan. Assistance for
Ormoc farms was doubly needed.
Thus, AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial
Development Cooperation, through its partners Cebu
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and
Ormoc City Chamber of Commerce & Industry
(OCCCI) worked hand in hand for the relief and
rehabilitation efforts for selected groups in the two
localities.
Surveys were conducted and several meetings with
existing business membership organizations and
people’s groups were undertaken to identify
appropriate interventions and activities for immediate
help as well as provide alternative and more sustainable
means of livelihood to displaced households.
Bantayan Island assistance centered more on the
provision of alternative livelihood and skills training
to selected beneficiaries. On the other hand, assistance
for barangay Cabintan, the vegetable basket of Ormoc
City, was concentrated on the supply of farm inputs,
farm rehabilitation, farming system enhancement and
training.
B. Project Objectives
• Provision of alternative sustainable means of
livelihood through:
- Skills training for out-of-school youth on
appropriate competencies that would directly
benefit the economic drivers (key industries) in
the islands
- Skills training for women and mothers
- Alternative livelihood for People’s Organizations
• Rehabilitation of farms and development of areas to
provide additional livelihood to local residents
- Increase income through appropriate farm systems
and inputs
- Capacitate farmers through trainings on improved
farming system and farm production including the
introduction of Good Agricultural Practices
Among the graduates were 5 trainees who come from one of the depressed islets of Bantayan.
These youths walked for 3 hours daily across the tidal flats during low tide or paddle their
subiran (small boat) with the use of tukon (bamboo pole) for 2 hours just to get to the
training venue.
C. Project Interventions &
Accomplishments
priorities for the recovery of the Bantayan Island
economy.
1. Bantayan Island
a. Skills Training for Out-of-School Youth
Soon after Haiyan, CCCI concluded that a local
implementing body was needed to expedite the
relief, rehabilitation and early recovery efforts in
Bantayan Island. The Bantayan Chapter of CCCI thus
saw its beginnings. The Bantayan chapter formation
was supported by the CCCI-AFOS mentoring
program, WECAN (Working for the Enhancement
of the Chamber and Association Network in the
Visayas and Caraga). The nascent group engaged local
stakeholders including people’s organizations during
focus group discussions to tackle value chain analysis
of three key economic drivers in the island, i.e.
poultry, fishery and tourism in order to capture the
Among the priorities identified during the value chain
analysis were various trainings for the island’s displaced
youths. Training needs were identified in the area of
carpentry for the reconstruction of residences, tourism
establishments and poultry farms, as well as in the area
of housekeeping and food and beverage service for the
numerous tourism establishments in the island.
Hospitality service class
The project was undertaken as an early-recovery
scheme to focus primarily on the rehabilitation of the
Tourism, and Poultry industries, as the needs of the
Fishery sector were already being served by most
INGOs and NGOs operating in the island. It aimed to
Trainees of the construction class
provide sustainable livelihood and improvement of the
well-being of the youth through skills trainings and to
upgrade the competencies of the human resources in
the said industries.
The trainings were conducted in partnership with the
International Labor Organization (ILO). The
collaboration engaged Cebu-based prestigious
learning providers – Banilad Center for Professional
Development (BCPD) and Primary Structures
Educational Foundation School of Knowledge for
Industrial
Labor,
Leadership
&
Service
(PSEFI-SKILLS) to train out-of school youth, many
of whom soon found work using the skills they learned
through the trainings.
Initially, 200 young adults participated in the training
in the areas of Basic Carpentry (25) and Hospitality
(175) in Food & Beverage Service and Housekeeping.
Out of these, 193 completed the trainings and 181
successfully passed the Technical Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) assessment and garnered a
National Certification, Level II (NC II). The
NC II will serve as their ticket for employment
opportunities. About 20% of the graduates have
already found employment within and outside of the
island. It is expected that the numbers of those
employed will rise as CCCI and its Bantayan Chapter
endorses the list of employable trainees to their
member companies and sectoral associations such as
the Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of
Cebu (HRRAC) and Cebu Contractors Association
(CCA).
CCCI, AFOS and at least 2 independent evaluators
resulted in the approval of four PO projects namely:
1) Candle Making by the Paraiso Candle Makers
Association (PCMA); 2) Livestock Raising by
Kambaki Fishermen Association (KAMFA), 3) Fish
Attracting Devices “payaw” and fishing boat
acquisition by the Marikaban Fisherfolks Association
(MASFA); and 4) Bag and Baskets Weaving out of
recycled laminated sacks by the Women’s Association
of Basawon (WAB).
Candle production by the Paraiso Candle Makers
Association (PCMA) of barrio Ticad was refurbished
and the association has regained their business niche
and provided additional income to its members. The
group is now making plans to upgrade their
production and marketing skills in the industry
through further training as more members have been
added to the association. As a further support, CCCI
has agreed to be its primary product buyer through the
chamber’s marketing service in Cebu City. In a move
to use PCMA funds more efficiently, the association
has proposed to diversify into food processing. This,
however, will still be subject to approval by CCCI
Bantayan chapter.
a. Livelihood Activities for People’s Organizations
The CCCI-AFOS partnership issued a “Call for
Proposals” for sustainable community livelihood
projects in the 3 municipalities of Bantayan Island.
Ten (10) peoples’ organizations (POs) participated in
this call. Note:
The smallest political and
administrative unit in the Philippines is known as a
“barangay”, “sitios” make up a barangay and “puroks”make
up a sitio. The POs are generally purok-based with about
10 to 50 households. The puroks are more focused and
manageable specific targets for development intervention
considering governance elements of functionality,
accountability, transparency and participatory processes.
Candles on sale by the PCMA
Each participating purok was granted Php7,500
(150€)to support the planning and development of
the proposal, that was not to exceed a total project cost
of Php300,000 (6.000€). The proposals evaluated by
Candles produced by the PCMA
payaw (fish lure device) project at the border of the fish
sanctuary. The pump-boats are also used to patrol the
sea against poachers and illegal fishers. With increased
income, the association added more payaws and kept
portions of their income for the maintenance of their
boats and fishing devices.
members of KAMFA constructing their pig pen
Kambaki Fishermen’s Association (KAMFA) was
granted an alternative livelihood for swine breeding as
fish catch in the island has diminished greatly due to
overfishing and lack of proper marine resource
management. The swine breeding grant covered the
supply of swine and boar, construction of the pig pens
and feed supply until the first batch of piglets are sold.
The CCCI-BC provided a technician to help them in
breeding management as well as in marketing. Nine
piglets have been birthed and sold. The operation is
closely monitored by the CCCI Bantayan Chapter to
ensure its sustainability.
Marikaban Fisherfolks Association (MASFA) was
granted two (2) pump-boats and fishing nets for their
Members of the MASFA after their meeting
The bag-weaving project of the Women’s Association
of Basawon (WAB) has substantially improved income
of its 56 members. They are currently hand-crafting
bags and baskets out of recycled laminated sacks. Aside
from enabling them to buy their food needs, it has also
enabled many to send their children to school. One
member was even able to buy her “dream” dentures.
In addition to weaving these women are also engaged
in body massage with clients coming from nearby
resorts, as well as local patrons.
The economic rehabilitation and livelihood programs
for the affected communities in Bantayan Island
remains huge. Assistance packages will always be most
welcome to facilitate life-giving programs and projects
that will enable the calamity stricken victims to move
from marginalized subsistence to more sustainable
economic living conditions and that will aid current
entrepreneurs to rehabilitate their business enterprises
while encouraging them to incorporate more sustainable resilient infrastructure, inputs and processes. The
pathways are varied, distinct and strategic for catalysts
of development.
WAB members talking about product design with
AFOS representatives
2. Ormoc City
The OCCCI’s relief and rehabilitation interventions
mainly responded to the need of the City to restore
and stabilize its vegetable supply, while providing
training and assistance to the Cabintan Community
Livelihood Association (CALCOA) in upgrading the
quality of their produce through the adoption of Good
Agricultural Practices (GAP) in line with the
Philippine GAP Standards (PhilGAP). Barangay Lake
Danao farmers were also provided with emergency
relief assistance at the outset of the Typhoon Haiyan
relief operations. Lake Danao is the site of the
WECAN Visayas & Caraga’s Tourism sector unit
project that also works with a farmers’ group.
Barangay Cabintan, on the other hand, is Ormoc
City’s vegetable basket that supplies much of the city’s
requirements.
Farmer inspecting his cabbage field
a. Farm rehabilitation, development and farmers’
training
About 90% of the residents in Barangay Cabintan are
engaged in farming as their primary source of
livelihood. Farm production has been perennially low
due to erratic weather conditions such that the farmers
cannot plant vegetables from June to February because
of heavy rains and winds that destroy the crops.
After the distribution of materials for immediate
needs, a survey was undertaken in Barangay Cabintan
among members of the partner farmers organization,
CALCOA. Data from the survey was used as the
basis for project activities, interventions and inputs for
farm improvement. The repair of damaged protective
structures or rain shelters was made a priority
intervention in the area. Trainings on farm
improvement and management as well as farm
product marketing were identified as areas of
intervention to improve the farms.
Farmers from Barangays Cabintan and Lake Danao,
with a total of 449 households, received agri-kits,
assorted vegetable seeds, fertilizers and nails for house
repair. Technical assistance and monitoring from the
Ormoc City Agriculture Office and the OCCCI
agriculture technician was likewise provided to the
farmers. Repair of rain shelters for 30 farms and 50
new rain shelters were given to a total of 80
farm-households. In addition 25 drums for water
storage were procured for the irrigation system of the
farms.
The rain shelters granted to CALCOA
First tomato harvest of CALCOA
Trainings on Farm Planning, Internal Control System,
Good Agricultural Practices, Market Links and Value
Chain Analysis were provided to members of the
CALCOA. A knowledge sharing on GAP was
provided by the Agriculture sector of the Butuan City
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in partnership
with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) and the
Department of Agriculture resulting into the drafting
matching and establish linkages between vegetable
producers and buyers. The forum provided a venue for
the drafting of an action plan for the farming sector
geared towards establishing a direct farm-to-market
linkage between producers and buyers. This was vital
for the improvement of farmers’ income as they strive
to do away with middlemen.
Registration and verification of names of recipients
Substantial results have been achieved through the
relief and rehabilitation operations of AFOS and
OCCCI, however, there is still much left to be done in
terms of recovering from the ravages of Typhoon
Haiyan and the succeeding typhoons that hit Ormoc
City. Based on recent monitoring figures of the
CALCOA farms, production is still an average of 17%
below the normal (pre-Haiyan) volume of products
while sales are lower by 19%. Further technical and
material assistance is needed by the farmers in order
for them to pursue PhilGAP certification that would
upgrade their product quality. Also, market linkages
initiated during the rehabilitation stage need to be
pursued and firmed up – that is, if the farmers are
eventually enabled to produce the volumes and
qualities required.
D. Project Impact
Delighted farmers during the agri-kits distribution
of an Action Plan for CALCOA farmers aimed at
getting GAP certification.
A vegetable market forum was conducted among
farmers from barangays Lake Danao and Cabintan
and local institutional buyers, traders and retailers.
The activity served to validate survey, conduct market
The Graduates after their graduation ceremony
1. Bantayan Island
The project’s success highlighted the importance of
partnership and synergy among implementers.
A unified team that creates hope for the most
underprivileged members of the society definitely leads
to the full attainment of project objectives. Strong
linkage between the business sector and the local
government units is vital to improve the development
climate of the island.
CALCOA farmers who attended the GAP training
The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
assisted by the AFOS Foundation proactively initiated
the establishment of a chapter of CCCI in Bantayan
to organize the business sector and use the early
recovery and rehabilitation opportunities to set the
tone for healthy collaboration and partnership. The
CCCI Bantayan Chapter served as the local
implementing body to expedite the relief,
rehabilitation and early recovery efforts. The chapter
led local stakeholders including people’s organizations
in focus group discussions to tackle various issues for
economic recovery such as value chain analysis of key
economic drivers in the island.
The project was able to meet the desired goal of
enhanced and improved skills for 193 out-of-school
youths with corresponding competencies. About 90%
of the graduates successfully passed the NC II TESDA
qualification that enabled many to get better
employment and much higher income not only in the
island but more so in other parts of the country with
some even being able to go abroad.
The project was also able to provide financial grants
and corresponding skills to four local community
associations or People’s Organizations who ventured
in appropriate alternative livelihood activities as they
worked upon the healing and restoration of their
natural resources. Candle-making, swine-breeding,
handicrafts-weaving and new fishing boats together
with “payaw” installation enabled the community
residents to earn additional income. Aside from
adequately meeting their daily needs, many were able
to send back their children to school.
Project beneficiaries expressed their deep gratitude for
the opportunity provided to them through the project.
This has greatly inspired them to rise above poverty
and above disasters. It also afforded them a fresh hope
for a better life.
2. Ormoc City
The Emergency Response and Rehabilitation Project
enabled Ormoc City Chamber of Commerce and
Industry to expand its service and extend its reach to
more people in Ormoc specifically the underprivileged and under-served residents in the
farmlands. Aside from gaining greater knowledge/
skills on project management and development,
ORCham was likewise able to link and partner with
many development institutions as well as local
government agencies and instrumentalities. Thus, the
chamber’s advocacy and influence has been
strengthened substantially.
The project provided immediate help to the farmers
enabling them to recover substantially faster from the
devastation brought by the typhoon. The provision of
vegetable seeds and rain shelter materials speeded up
the replacement of damaged crops providing the
farmers with renewed hope in the midst of the
devastation.The farmers also gained new skills,
knowledge and technology from the trainings and
seminars conducted coupled with actual and constant
coaching of the agriculture technician. This helped
them to a greater degree, to regain their niche as the
major supplier and vegetable basket in Ormoc.
Greater rain shelter rehabilitation and construction
was undertaken from the additional profits resulting
from greater farm produce. Living conditions have
improved substantially although much is still to be
desired for stability. Improved vegetable production is
evident. However, the predatory practices of middle
men is depriving them of the gains in production.
Thus, many of the farmers are continuing the practice
of illegal harvest of forest products to augment income.
A new challenge that the farmers are now facing is
innovation and adaptation of more appropriate
farming techniques and practices to further improve
and maximize production. The GAP training received
must now be put to practice in each individual farms.
But the farmers need to be “walked through” the
process and cannot be left to implement GAP system
by themselves. Left on their own, it is highly probable
for them to go back to their old practices.
In support of GAP adaptation the following
appropriate technology trainings will be very helpful:
1) Vermi composting
2) Natural farming inputs on the making of organic
pesticides
3) Seedling nursery establishment
4) Livestock raising
5) Community post-harvest facility
The OCCCI and its farmer partners in Cabintan and
Lake Danao are one in expressing their utmost appreciation and gratitude for the assistance provided to
them by the donors and partners of AFOS Foundation and the Federation of of Catholic Entrepreneurs
(BKU).