SAN ISIDRO, Davao Oriental (DSWD XI) – In November 2014, 20 Pantawid Pamilya mothers came together and agreed to organize the Cambaleon Hog Raisers SEA-K Association.
Having accessed P 200,000.00 capital assistance from the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the team of strong-minded women has become the official pork meat supplier in the conduct of Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) for day care children in the town.
Just two and a half hour-ride from downtown Davao City, San Isidro town boasts of ample marine resources and agricultural products. In 1993, it was the choice for the national pilot run of the DSWD Comprehensive and Integrated and Delivery of Social Services (CIDSS).
Most of its barangays are recipient of Core Shelter Assistance Program (CSAP) in early to mid-1990s. It also enjoys other DSWD Programs such as KALAHI-CIDSS and Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens.
Need for livelihood
SLP is a community-based capacity building program of DSWD that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of family recipients, in partnership with local governments, national government and non-government agencies.
SLP is implemented through two tracks -Micro-Enterprise Development (MED) and Employment Facilitation (EF). MED track supports micro-enterprises for organizational and economic viability while EF track assists participants in accessing appropriate employment opportunities.
Like all beneficiaries of SLP, members of Cambaleon Hog Raisers SEA-K Association undertook SLP preparatory technical sessions such as project identification process through Participatory Livelihood Opportunity Analysis, and business management and marketing to prepare them to be competent entrepreneurs.
“We prepared our own project proposals with technical assistance of our SLP Project Development Officer Vanda Cattleya A. Sajetarios,” Association President Renefe Quilisadio said.
In partnership with Pegrolac, we were also provided with technical inputs on proper hog raising and received free vitamins and vaccines for our hogs, Quilisadio shared.
Hopeful
Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Elna G. Arenal expressed optimism during the project launch. “I am very positive that our women will succeed given their sheer enthusiasm and the technical inputs continuously provided by DSWD project development officers.”
I am just so excited because in the past, San Isidro has extensively worked with DSWD on the core shelter units constructed in several barangays here. Now, we still have Kalahi-CIDSS, Pantawid Pamilya, Social Pension, Suplementary Feeding, and others. In a way, our town is blessed with a lot of social protection programs from DSWD and we are grateful for this, Arenal added.
ABC President Reynaldo Peñafiel and some members of the barangay council also conveyed their happiness and pledged to support the project.
Quilisadio promised to take good care of the fund entrusted them and committed as well to deliver the roll back payment in a quarterly basis.
“Initially, we started off with 40 piglets with an average weight of 10 kilos each,” she said.
Based on SLP Policy Memo 04-2013 from the Office of Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman of DSWD, Cambaleon Hog Raisers SEA-K Association now serves as the SLP-Supplementary Feeding Program Commodity Cluster Model (CCM) in the locality, Provincial SLP Coordinator Julius R. Duterete shared.
Hence, the group is responsible for supplying the pork meat requirement in the conduct of Supplementary Feeding Program which provides nutritious hot meals to children in day care centers, Duterte added.
Monthly monitoring of the Hog Raising livelihood project is facilitated by PDO Sajetarios together with the association president and barangay officials.
Group members actively attend the weekly meetings while the group enjoys a 100% collection on their savings mobilization.
Moreover, Barangay Cambaleon, DSWD and the Cambaleon Hog Raisers SEA-K Association have drafted a Memorandum of Agreement indicating their respective roles and functions in project implementation and monitoring. The association has also obtained its business permit and BIR Official Receipts.
The incredible feat of the 20 women demonstrates that unity and discipline could unleash women power and game changers even in a remote village. (DSWD)