PROCESS-Bohol, Inc. Official Website

ABATAN CLUSTER LRED PLAN (presented by DTI-Bohol Provincial Director Nannette C. Arbon) and the Abatan River Ecotourism Master Plan (presented by Dominador and Stella Lopez of EGD Lopez and Partners) were approved by the Abatan River Development Management Council (ARDMC) represented by the Council Chairman Mayor Roberto L. Salinas of Catigbian, Mayor Victoria M. Chatto of Balilihan, Mayor Cecelia Rebosura of Antequera, Mayor Apolinaria H. Balistoy of Cortes and Mayor Leoncio Evasco, Jr. of Maribojoc. Gov. Erico B. Aumentado and Cong. Edgar M. Chatoo along with DTI 7 RD Asteria C. Caberte and Miriam Bacalso of GTZ-SMEDSEP 7, Provincial Tourism Council and representatives from private sector expressed their strong commitment of support for the development of the Abatan cluster.

A new and distinct tourist destination in the province is on its way that will surely enchant visitors for a rich natural and cultural heritage experience.

This was ascertained during the “Presentation of the Abatan River Ecotourism Master Plan and Abatan LRED Cluster Plan” on November 3, 2008 at the Bohol Tropics Resort.

The initiative is a masterpiece of Cong. Edgar M. Chatto of the First District of Bohol and the Abatan River Development Management Council (ARDMC) chaired by Mayor Roberto Salinas of the municipality of Catigbian and co-chaired by the mayors of the other four municipalities of Maribojoc, Cortes, Antequera and Balilihan (who were all present during the activity) with active coordination by partners from the German Technical Cooperation-SMEDSEP and the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Master Plan promotes Abatan River not only as the usual river tour, but as a real community-based ecotourism experiencing community life enjoying the serenity of the river and its nature.

Thus, it is called “Abatan River Community Life Tour and Nature Experience”.

Furthermore, the branding of Abatan will continue with the adoption of a unified architectural character, basically-Asian Filipino with unique identifying features and indigenous materials appearing in all the major Abatan structures. (more…)

In the onset, I did not mind the NGO that came into our barangay (village) to operate. But after constant informal discourses with the Technician assigned, I decided to join the farmers association that was formed. Then I attended organizational meetings and seminars. We were trained on organic farming, agroforestry development, planting of forage crops for animals, and production of goats, chickens and pigs.

I was one of those who loaned for the purchase of goats. Since I learned the advantage of organic fertilizers, I no longer apply inorganic on our farm up to the present. What we are utilizing is goat manure. At that time we did not have enough supply of goat manure, we used bokashi (organic fertilizer) through another loan. Now that we have sufficient supply of this material, this is already the fertilizer that we use for our crops. My planted fruit trees are already big although not bearing fruit yet. The goats are also of great help to our livelihood. I was able to sell 5 goats already. During lean season and we don’t have money to buy, we will sell goat for rice, viand and other needs at home.

All in all, I would say that the project has helped a lot in enhancing our knowledge and improving our living conditions.

 By: Lydia G. Paluga

Member, Committee on Organic & Agroforestry Villa Suerte Farmers Association (ViSFA)
Villa Suerte, Bilar, Bohol

The micro-enterprise project of our mothers’ organization has contributed a lot to our pockets through the percentage share that we get from the sales of our pastry products with our regular customers during town fiestas and in market outlets as well. The accumulated amount taken from the mark-up price of our commodities has helped defray the expenses for the daily needs of our respective families.

By: Remedios C. Yana

Kapunongan sa mga Inahan alang sa Kaugmaran Chairperson

San Vicente, Baclayon, Bohol

Since the formation of Bantay Banay (Family Watch) group in our barangay (village), cases of domestic violence such as physical abuse to women and children have been lessened. As a barangay official and the focal person of Bantay Banay in Tagbuane, I have a great role. One of my roles that I have done is the issuance of Barangay Protection Order (BPO) to the perpetrator of wife battery. Because of the BPO issued, it was observed that the negative attitude of the husband towards his wife has improved.

In similar situation, after talking to our neighbor who physically abused his child and told him of the new law on Child Abuse, I have also noticed that the father seemed to have reformed and I have never heard him beating his child again.

I am thankful to PROCESS-Bohol in organizing Bantay Banay in our barangay who contributed a lot to the transformation of human behaviors of some of our barangay constituents in treating their family members and close relatives.

By:Kag. Gabriel Gamil

Brgy. Official & Bantay Banay Focal Person

Tagbuane, Alburquerque, Bohol 

Dear Readers,

Beginning the month of July this year, we will integrate “Stories in the Field” of our partner communities who participate in the different programs, projects and activities of our organization. These stories were presented by our staff during our Year-end Assessment and Planning Workshop held last July 9-11. Our aim is to provide feedbacks to our donors who continually support our development efforts for improved quality of life of poor communities, particularly those of farmers and fishers.

Editor

We, the fishers and farmers who are members of the Tangohay Fisherfolk Association (TAFA) had difficulty in borrowing money for farm production and fishing paraphernalia. Most of the lending groups have very high interest rates which the members could not afford to pay. The organization envisions helping its members improve their meager income. It then started to provide loans to its members with only 1% interest rate. The micro-lending project of the organization has now a total capital of PhP340,000.00 catering to 60 members. The successful implementation of the project is attributed to the support and assistance of PROCESS-Bohol.”

By: Rafael Jumao-as
Tangohay Fisherfolk Association (TAFA)
Barangay Tangohay, Dimiao, Bohol

Student Intern Jocelyne Cardenas (far left) with experts from the different line agencies of the Abatan River Development Project together with PROCESS-Bohol staff led by Executive Director Emilia Roslinda (far right) and the local tour guides (in uniform) of San Vicente Mangroves Association pose at Tintinan Island in San Vicente, Maribojoc, Bohol.

My name is Jocelyne Cardenas and I am a Family, Youth, and Community Sciences major from the University of Florida. For a part of my summer vacation I was able to volunteer with PROCESS-Bohol. Though I only spent one week here (June 19-27), PROCESS-Bohol gave me the opportunity to see first-hand what it takes to be a successful NGO in the Philippines. I had the chance to participate in a women’s group two-day training session (where I attempted to learn Bisayan dialect), see a hand-made broom demonstration by KNI - a local women’s group of Albur (which was amazing), and I got to sit in on several meetings on varying topics (taking place on rivers, mangroves, and churches!), just to name a few. The expansiveness of the organization’s coverage is remarkable and has yet to cease to amaze me. All the exposure I’ve had has been beneficial for my education and has made me more excited than ever to join the Peace Corps upon graduation (and perhaps return to the Philippines to learn some more Bisayan). Daghang salamat!

Photo shows happy faces of original families with community facilitator Frank Patulilic (wearing rubber shoes) a moment prior to their sharing and reflection session held last June 12 in preparation to the Passing on the Gifts Ceremony set July 1.

Beginning July this year, PROCESS-Bohol will be expanding its operation inside the municipality of Malitbog, province of Southern Leyte. Two adjacent barangays (villages) will be opened in addition to the existing sites of the Sharing and Caring Others in Watershed (SCOW) Project in barangays Mahayahay and Lambonao. These new barangays are San Jose and San Isidro.

Barangay San Jose is situated in the downstream portion of the Biliran watershed whose communities are farmers and fishers. In this barangay, 20 farmers will be chosen to become the next batch of families who will get live ‘gifts’ and other resources, including skills and knowledge from the original families of the ongoing SCOW Project. The other 20 families will be identified within the existing project sites. (more…)

The marine sanctuary in barangay Bingag in the municipality of Dauis, Bohol came out the best among the nine marine protected areas (MPAs) along Maribojoc Bay. The decision was made by an evaluation team composed of representatives from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Provincial Government of Bohol through the Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO), Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC) and Maribojoc Bay Resource Management Board (MBRMB). It was based on criteria set as follows: biodiversity, law enforcement, income generation, and functional management council.

The competition was the first ever in the province aimed at recognizing LGUs efforts in managing marine resources while promoting MPA as the effective and efficient strategy to restore and enhance biodiversity. This was initiated by the Office of Provincial Governor Erico Aumentado, PROCESS-Bohol and Maribojoc Bay Executive Management Office (MBEMO) in time for the culmination of the Month of the Ocean celebration.

Photo shows Bingag Barangay Captain Filma Palacio receiving plaque of appreciation and Php20,000 cash prize from Bohol Vice- Governor Julius Cesar Herrera. Also in the photo are Eduardo Macalandag representing the Maribojoc-Cortes- Tagbilaran-Panglao-Dauis Integrated Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Management Council (MACOTAPADA IFARMC), Delia Solis of PROCESS- Bohol and two officers of the Bingag-Dapdap Fishermen’s Organization (BIDAFO).