Collaboration with Heifer International-Philippines yielded positive results

Early this year (2011), Kathleen Deckmyn-Cordero met with the Country Director of Heifer International-Philippines, Mr. Hercules Paradiang.  The meeting was held at the DISOP Philippines office in Tacloban City.  The purpose of that meeting was to explore possible collaboration and complementation of funding resources between DISOP Philippines and Heifer International.  The result of the meeting was very optimistic.  The focus of Heifer International in the Philippines perfectly complements with the thrust of DISOP Philippines in its continuing effort to assist the disadvantaged groups in the country through partnering with local non-government organizations.

Initially, DISOP and Heifer identified five (5) NGO partners for possible collaboration considering Heifer’s  geographical focus where DISOP has either prior or new partner.  The NGOs identified were:  1] South Pacific Integrated Area Development Foundation, Inc. (SPIADFI) in Hinundayan, Southern Leyte; 2] Calubian Livelihood Assistance for Development, Inc. (CLAD, Inc.) in Calubian, Leyte; 3] Dinagat Island Development Foundation, Inc. (DIDF) in Dinagat Island Province, Surigao; 4] Mag-uugmad Foundation, Inc. (MFI) in Cebu City; and 5] Sentro ha Pagpauswag ha Panginabuhi, Inc. (SPPI) in Catarman, Northern Samar.  Of the five(5) NGOs, two were new partners of DISOP  for 2011-2013 program phase.  These are MFI and SPPI.  Proposals of these partners with DISOP were then sent back to them to revise and reflect budget allocation for Heifer-related project activities.  Then, among the five partners, SPPI and DIDF declined partnership with Heifer at this time because for SPPI, they thought that the  Heifer project would not appropriately suit the situation of Capul Island, Northern Samar which is more focused on marine resources than in livestock production.  This is also true with DIDF who implemented the project in Dinagat Island, Surigao.

Call for Stakeholder’s Meeting

Last June 2011, Heifer called a multi-sectoral Stakeholders Meeting in Maasin, Southern, Leyte.  Kathleen Deckmyn and Conrado Brigoli attended the meeting.   It was also participated by local and provincial representatives of government agencies as well as the NGOs that were endorsed by DISOP to Heifer for possible funding.   The meeting was a whole day affair with a short workshop to validate needs of the agencies present and where Heifer can complement for funding support.

Representatives from the government were very enthusiastic to avail of the programs of Heifer as these were also in line with their thrust of providing livelihood to the farmers.  All agencies shared their programs and projects and after that, an open forum was conducted.  Sharing was very productive.  From one agency to the other, similarities of projects and activities were very apparent.

For the remaining three (3) DISOP Partner NGOs identified, two ( MFI and SPIADFI) had implemented projects with Heifer International Philippines already.  MFI implemented projects in Barangay Danao, Macrohon, Southern Leyte while SPIADFI implemented its project in Barangay Tomas Oppus, Southern Leyte.

The meeting made a short break for lunch.  After that, the workshop to identify possible assistance from Heifer started.   The result of the workshop became one of the bases of Heifer for integration of their activities and for funding consideration.  In the case of DISOP Philippines partners, we were grouped into one.  Proposal for collaboration will be treated as one but with three (3) NGOs implementing it in several areas already identified.

Indeed that meeting yielded positive results by considering the  three (3) DISOP Partners (MFI, SPIADFI and CLAD) into the funding pipeline of Heifer International Philippines support for 2011.