Weaving the Web of Life

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Philippine indigenous peoples lead the way in an

innovative partnership to strengthen their self-reliance and

promote their heritage in a changing world

I N D I S C O C a s e S t u d y N o .

7

Y a s m i n D . A r q u i z a

I

NTERNATIONAL

L

ABOUR

O

RGANIZATION

I

N T E R

-R

E G I O N A L

P

R O G R A M M E

T

O

S

U P P O R T

S

E L F

-R

E L I A N C E O F

I

N D I G E N O U S

A

N D

T

R I B A L

C

O M M U N I T I E S

T

H R O U G H

C

O O P E R A T I V E S

A

N D

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Th e I LO- I NDI S CO P r o gr a m m e wa s l a u n c h e d i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s i n 1 9 9 4 i n c o l l a b o r a ti o n wi th th e P h i l i p p i n e Go ve r n m e n t. I t i s a m u l ti - b i l a te r a l te c h n i c a l c o o p e r a ti o n u n d e r ta k i n g a i m e d a t s tr e n gth e n i n g th e s e l f- r e l i a n c e o f i n d i ge n o u s a n d tr i b a l c o m m u n i ti e s a n d te s ti n g i n n o va ti ve a p p r o a c h e s to i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e ’ s d e ve l o p m e n t .

I n o r de r to a c h i e ve i ts o b j e c ti ve s , i t h a s fa c i l i ta te d th e o p e r a ti o n o f 1 2 p i l o t p r o j e c ts l o c a te d i n s tr a te gi c a r e a s o f th e c o u n tr y. Th e s e p i l o t p r o j e c ts i n vo l ve i n d i ge n o u s c o m m u n i ti e s i n va r i o u s s ta ge s o f d e ve l o p m e n t a n d d i ffe r e n t l e ve l s o f c u ltu r a l in te gr ity. Th e y h a ve a lr e a dy b e e n in o p e r a tio n fo r a n a ve r a ge o f 3 . 5 ye a r s a n d r e gu l a r I NDI S CO te c h n i c a l a n d fi n a n c i a l s u p p o r t h a s b e e n p h a s e d o u t fr o m m o s t o f th e m .

As a s tr a te gy, I NDI S CO P h i l i p p i n e s c a p i ta l i ze d o n th e i n h e r e n t s e n s e o f s e l f-r e l i a n c e a n d n a ti ve te c h n o l o gy o f th e p a f-r tn e f-r c o m m u n i ti e s . Co m m u n i ty o f-r ga n i za ti o n s , wh i c h a r e fo u n d e d o n e x i s ti n g i n d i ge n o u s i n s ti tu ti o n s , we r e ta p p e d to i m p l e m e n t th e p r o j e c t a c ti vi ti e s wi th fa c i l i ta ti ve te c h n i c a l a n d fi n a n c i a l a s s i s ta n c e fr o m th e I NDI S CO P r o gr a m m e . Th r o u gh th e i r o wn c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n s , th e i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s we r e gi ve n th e o p p o r tu n i ty to p l a n , i m p l e m e n t a n d m o n i to r th e i r c o m m u n i ty d e ve l o p m e n t a c ti vi ti e s .

Fo r p u r p o s e s o f di s c o ve r i n g i n a s ys te m a ti c a n d o b j e c ti ve m a n n e r th e i n i ti a l r e s u l ts o f th e p r o gr a m m e , Ms Ya s m i n D. Ar q u i za , a fe l l o w o f th e P h i l i p p i n e Ce n te r fo r I n ve s ti ga ti ve J o u r n a l i s m a n d e di to r i a l di r e c to r o f B a n di l l o n g P a l a wa n , r e c e n tl y do c um e n te d th e le s s o n s le a r n e d a n d b e s t pr a c tic e s ge n e r a te d fr o m th e pilo t pr o j e c ts . I LO- I NDI S CO n a ti o n a l c o o r d i n a to r Do m i n go I . Na ya h a n ga n e d i te d th e te x t p r i o r to p u b l i c a ti o n .

Th is b o o k wa s wr itte n o n th e b a s is o f in fo r m a tio n , ide a s a n d o pin io n s pr o vide d b y th e p e o p l e wh o h a ve b e e n i n vo l ve d i n th e i m p l e m e n ta ti o n o f th e I LO- I ND I S CO p r o gr a m m e i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s . S p e c i a l th a n k s go to a l l o f th e m , p a r ti c u l a r l y th e tr ib a l le a de r s a n d pr o j e c t s ta ff o f th e in dige n o us c o m m un itie s in th e 1 2 pilo t pr o j e c ts .

I t i s h o p e d th a t th r o u gh th i s b o o k , th e a b o ve - m e n ti o n e d l e s s o n s l e a r n e d a n d b e s t p r a c ti c e s ge n e r a te d u n de r th e p r o gr a m m e i n te r m s o f i n n o va ti ve a p p r o a c h e s to i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s d e ve l o p m e n t c o u l d b e d i s s e m i n a te d a n d r e p l i c a te d .

We r n e r K o n r a d Bl e n k

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I.

The Changing Scene

... 6

Cent ur i es of col oni zat i on and waves of mi gr at i on have r adi cal l y al t er ed t he

l i ves of i ndi genous peopl e al l over t he Phi l i ppi nes. Missi onar i es have penet r at ed

t he most r emot e of f or est abodes. I nt er nal ar med conf l i ct has

br ought vi ol ence

i nt o ot her wi se peacef ul vi l l ages. Et hni c unr est cont i nues t o r age i n t he count r ysi de,

caus i ng uncer t ai nt y and economi c har ds hi p. I l l - pl anned devel opment pr ogr ams

and assi st ance have f ai l ed t o ease t he pover t y i n many i ndi genous communi t i es.

I n t hi s cont ext of r api d change, t he I NDI SCO pr ogr amme

st ar t ed i nt r oduci ng a

new concept of communi t y devel opment

par t ner shi p i n 12 pi l ot pr oj ect si t es.

II.

Changing Lives

... 16

Fi ve year s af t er t he l aunchi ng of t he pi l ot pr oj ect s

,

I NDI SCO has br ought

si gni f i cant changes i n t he l i ves of i ndi genous peopl es i n most of t he si t es. Thr ough

i t s i nnovat i ve appr oach t hat emphasi zed col l ect i ve r esponsi bi l i t y and di scour aged

t he

dol e- out ment al i t y, I NDI SCO managed t o i ns t i l l a s ens e of communi t y

owner shi p of t he pr oj ect . Many of t he par t ner communi t i es ar e wel l on t hei r way

t owar ds s us t ai ned decent wor k

,

hi gher f ami l y i ncome, i ncr eas ed s ens e of

r es pons i bi l i t y over t he envi r onment and nat ur al r es our ces wi t hi n ances t r al

domai ns, and gr eat er gender awar eness. Most i mpor t ant l y, bet t er appr eci at i on of

i ndi genous knowl edge s ys t ems

and pr act i ces has been f os t er ed t o ens ur e t he

cul t ur al sur vi val of t r i bal communi t i es. The posi t i ve i mpact of t he pr oj ect shows

t he val i di t y of t he appr oach empl oyed by t he pr ogr amme, wher e t he par t ner

communi t i es ar e al l owed t o t ake gr eat er cont r ol of t he pr oj ect and l ear n f r om

t hei r mi st akes, and successf ul vent ur es as wel l .

Learning H o w T o Fish

Learning H o w T o Fish . . . .

. . . .

2 2

T he M usic o f the Fish

. . . .

3 3

N at ure´ s St ew ards

N at ure´ s St ew ards . . . .

. . . .

3 8

O n T heir O w n

. . . .

4 2

A W o rld o f M en and W o m en

A W o rld o f M en and W o m en . . . .

. . . .

4 8

Co unt ing t he Face o f Rizal

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Among t he par t ner communi t i es , s ome have exhi bi t ed t he mos t s ucces s f ul

appl i cat i on of t he pr oj ect ’ s st r at egi es and component s. These best pr act i ces ar e

showcased i n t hi s sect i on. Among t he i ni t i at i ves t hat ar e r epl i cabl e i n ot her

communi t i es ar e t he gender awar enes s pr ogr ams i n Bagui o Ci t y, t he i nnovat i ve

us e of t he Revol vi ng Loan Funds i n Tawi - Tawi , management of ances t r al domai n

i n Bakun, t he pr eser vat i on of i ndi genous handi cr af t i n t he Aut onomous Regi on of

Mus l i m Mindanao, and t he l i t er acy pr ogr am i n Buki dnon.

Ancestral D o main M anagement

. . . .

5 7

Revo lving Lo an Fund

Revo lving Lo an Fund . . . .

. . . .

6 3

T raditio nal H andicraft

T raditio nal H andicraft . . . .

. . . .

6 5

Gender Aw areness

Gender Aw areness . . . .

. . . .

7 0

Funct io nal Lit eracy

. . . .

7 1

IV.

Changing Peo ple ...

Changing Peo ple

...

7 4

I n ever y pr oj ect , di f f i cul t i es ar e encount er ed t hat l ead t o deep r ef l ect i ons and

accept ance of l es s ons on t he par t of benef i ci ar i es . I n t hi s s ect i on, par t ner

communi t i es candi dl y di s cus s ed s ome of t hei r mi s t akes as wel l as t hei r

per cept i ons on what coul d be t he weaknesses of t he pr oj ect . They al so pr ovi ded

i nsi ght s, anal ysi s, and suggest i ons f or addr essi ng t hese concer ns.

M arket ing o f Pro d uct s

. . . .

7 6

Pro m o t ing I nd igeno us Kno w led ge

. . . .

7 8

Repaym ent o f Lo ans

Repaym ent o f Lo ans . . . .

. . . .

8 0

Pro ject M anagem ent

Pro ject M anagem ent . . . .

. . . .

8 2

St rengt hening Lo cal O rganizat io ns

St rengt hening Lo cal O rganizat io ns . . . .

. . . .

8 4

Lo gist ical Co ncerns

Lo gist ical Co ncerns . . . .

. . . .

8 5

T enurial Security

T enurial Security . . . .

. . . .

8 6

Peace & O rder

Peace & O rder . . . .

. . . .

8 7

V.

Changing the W o rld ...

Changing the W o rld

...

8 8

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A D M P

Ances t r al Domai n Management Pl an

A D S P P

Ances t r al Domai n Sus t ai nabl e Devel opment &

Pr ot ect i on Pl an

B I T O

Bakun I ndi genous Tr i bes Or gani zat i on

C A D C

Cer t i f i cat e of Ancest r al Domai n Cl ai m

C A D T

Cer t i f i cat e of Ancest r al Domai n Ti t l e

C A L T

Cert i fi cat e of Ancest ral Land Ti t l e

D A

Depar t ment of Agr i cul t ur e

D A R

Depar t ment of Agr ar i an Ref or m

D E C S

Depar t ment of Educat i on, Cul t ur e, and Spor t s

D E N R

Depar t ment of Envi r onment and Nat ur al Res our ces

F E M M A T R I C s

Feder at i on of Mat i gsal og- Manobo Tr i bal Counci l s

I K S P

I ndi genous Knowl edge Sys t ems and Pr act i ces

I L O

I nt er nat i onal Labour Or gani zat i on

I P R A

I ndi genous Peopl es Ri ght s Act

M A L E I

Mat i gsal og Li t er acy Educat i on I nc.

M A L T R I C O

Mal ungon Tr i bal Congr ess

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the finest threads that will suit the design

she has in mind. T he choice of material is

important, as it determines the quality of

the finished product. Other elements such

as dye and wax are also necessary to

complete the process. I n the past, many of

these materials came from the rainforest

that al so pr ovi ded the i ndi genous

communi ti es wi th food, shel ter , and

medicine. Outsiders have cut down vast

tracts of forests however, causing shortages

of material and endangering the survival

of ancient weaving traditions.

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I

n h i s b o o k Wi s d o m fr o m a R a i n fo r e s t, a n th r o p o l o gi s t S tu a r t S c h l e ge l d e s c r i b e sa n i d yl l i c c o m m u n i ty o f i n d i ge n o u s T e d u r a y i n th e Co ta b a to r e gi o n d u r i n g th e 1 9 6 0 s . T h e tr i b a l p e o p l e i n r e m o te Fi ge l vi l l a ge b e l i e ve th e y we r e c r e a te d b y th e Gr e a t S p i r i t to c a r e fo r th e fo r e s t, a n d th a t th e fo r e s t wa s c r e a te d to p r o vi d e fo r th e i r n e e d s . T h e y h e l p e d e a c h o th e r p r e p a r e s wi d d e n fa r m s , a n d d u r i n g h a r ve s t ti m e , th e y s h a r e d th e b o u n ty fr o m th e l a n d . E a c h o n e wa s a “ s pe c ia lis t” in a pa r tic ula r s k ill s uc h a s h un tin g, h e a lin g, o r m e dia tin g c o n flic ts , a n d c o n tr i b u te d th i s u n i q u e ta l e n t to th e c o m m u n i ty. Ye t, n o o n e wa s a b o ve a n yb o d y e l s e . Al l c r e a tu r e s , h u m a n s a s we l l a s wi l d l i fe , h a d e q u a l va l u e . Ge n d e r c o n fl i c t wa s n o n - e x i s te n t a s m e n a n d wo m e n s h a r e d r e s p o n s i b i l i ty a n d va r i o u s r o l e s i n m a n y a s p e c ts o f d a i l y l i fe . Ch i l d r e n we r e a c c o r d e d th e s a m e r e s p e c t a s a d u l ts , a n d th e r e wa s n o d i s c r i m i n a ti o n a ga i n s t ga ys . T h e i r wa y o f l i fe h a d n o r o o m fo r c o m p e ti ti o n , h i e r a r c h y, c o e r c i ve fo r c e , a n d vi o l e n c e . E ve n i n a ga m e o f k i c k b a l l , th e r e we r e n o wi n n e r s o r l o s e r s b e c a u s e th e o b j e c ti ve wa s s i m p l y fo r e ve r yo n e to m a k e th e b a l l s ta y i n th e a i r th e l o n ge s t. Ha r m o n y p r e va i l e d b e c a u s e th e y a vo i d e d i n fl i c ti n g p h ys i c a l o r e m o ti o n a l p a i n o n a n o th e r p e r s o n . Wh e n d i s p u te s a r o s e , th e y r e l i e d o n l e ga l s a ge s to s e ttl e th e i s s u e th r o u gh a n e l a b o r a te tr i b a l j u s ti c e s ys te m . Co o p e r a ti o n wa s th e k e y to th e i r s u r vi va l .

I t i s u n l i k e l y th a t th e T e d u r a y i n Fi ge l h a d e ve r h e a r d o f s o c i a l i s m e ve n th o u gh th e y p r a c ti c e d o n e o f i ts c o r e va l u e s : fr o m e a c h a c c o r d i n g to h i s o r h e r a b i l i ti e s , a n d to e a c h a c c o r di n g to h i s o r h e r n e e ds . B u t th e n i de o l o gy a n d p o l i ti c a l p o we r h a d n o p l a c e i n th e i r wa y o f l i fe . T h e i r e ga l i ta r i a n s ys te m wa s s i m p l y th e e s s e n c e o f c o m m u n i ty.

Un fo r tu n a te l y, th e T e d u r a y p e o p l e o f Fi ge l h a d n o c o n tr o l o ve r th e wo r l d o u ts i d e th e i r p e a c e fu l vi l l a ge e i th e r . I n th e e a r l y 1 9 7 0 s , e th n i c c o n fl i c ts r e a c h e d th e i r fo r e s t a b o d e a n d th e c o m m u n i ty wa s d i s p e r s e d , m a n y o f i ts m e m b e r s k i l l e d .

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T o th i s d a y, c o n fl i c t p e r s i s ts i n c e r ta i n p a r ts o f th e P h i l i p p i n e s , a d ve r s e l y a ffe c ti n g th e e c o n o m y a n d c a u s i n g te n s i o n a m o n g i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s . T h e l a te s t o u tb r e a k o f fi gh ti n g b e twe e n r e b e l s a n d go ve r n m e n t fo r c e s i n c e n tr a l Mi n d a n a o i n th e e a r l y p a r t o f ye a r 2 0 0 0 h a s s e ve r e l y a ffe c te d th e h a n d i c r a ft p r o d u c ti o n o f I ND I S CO p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s i n th e r e gi o n . I n th e p r o vi n c e o f La n a o d e l S u r , a p l a c e we l l k n o wn fo r i ts c o l o r fu l wo ve n c l o th a n d fi n e l y – c r a fte d b r a s s wa r e , B a i De r o n s a ys s h e k e e p s h e r c h i l d r e n ’ s c l o th e s i n s u i tc a s e s — s o th e y c a n e va c u a te e a s i l y i f th e n e e d a r i s e s . E ve n th o u gh s h e wa n te d m e to vi s i t h e r wo m e n ’ s gr o u p i n th e vi l l a ge o f D a ya wa n wh e r e th e i r wo ve n m a l o n g wr a p s a r e r e p u te d to b e a m o n g th e b e s t i n Mi n d a n a o , s h e wa s h e s i ta n t. As s h e r e c a l l e d te l l i n g th e p r o j e c t m a n a ge r , “ Ho w c a n I gu a r a n te e h e r s a fe ty i f I c a n n o t e ve n gu a r a n te e m y c h i l dr e n ’ s s a fe ty?” D e r o n h e a d s th e D a ya wa n Wo m e n Lo o m We a ve r s As s o c i a ti o n , th e o r ga n i za ti o n o f o n e o f th e p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s l o c a te d i n th e Au to n o m o u s R e gi o n i n Mu s l i m Mi n d a n a o .

I n a n e i gh b o r i n g vi l l a ge , Ha j i Ma n ga c o p D i p a tu a n , Ch a i r m a n o f th e T u ga ya B r a s s wa r e Ma k e r s Mu l ti p u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve , wh i c h i s a n o th e r p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n , wa s fo r c e d to s ta y h o m e a l s o b e c a u s e o f th e i n te r n a l c o n fl i c t. As a r e s u l t, h e wa s u n a b l e to j o i n th e i n te r vi e w i n I l i ga n Ci ty. T h e two o r ga n i za ti o n s h a d p r o p o s e d I l i ga n Ci ty a s th e ve n u e fo r th e i n te r vi e w b e c a u s e i t wa s c o n s i d e r e d r e l a ti ve l y s a fe c o m p a r e d to o th e r a r e a s .

Co ta b a to Ci ty fa c e s a s i m i l a r i m a ge p r o b l e m . Th e i n te r n a l c o n fl i c t h a d a te l l i n g e ffe c t o n b u s i n e s s i n th e c i ty, wh i c h h a s fa i l e d to k e e p p a c e wi th th e e c o n o m i c b o o m i n th e s o u th e r n p a r t o f th e r e s o u r c e - r i c h Co ta b a to r e gi o n . Ve h i c l e s h a ve to go th r o u gh s e ve r a l c h e c k p o i n ts b e fo r e e n te r i n g u r b a n a r e a s . Me m b e r s o f th e S u l ta n Ku d a r a t Wo m e n Lo o m We a ve r s As s o c i a ti o n n o te d th a t th e s i tu a ti o n h a s s c a r e d o ff s o m e c u s to m e r s . T h e i r i n tr i c a te l y wo ve n m a l o n g a n d tu b a o wi th th e d i s ti n c ti ve Ma gu i n d a n a o d e s i gn s a r e p i l i n g u p i n th e i r d i s p l a y c e n te r a s m a r k e ti n g a c ti vi ti e s o u ts i d e th e c i ty we r e i m p a i r e d .

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d a n ge r o u s wa te r wa ys l e a d i n g to th e i r h o m e s . Co m m u n i c a ti o n i s s p o tty, wi th m e s s a ge s ge tti n g r e l a ye d to th e m u s u a l l y th r o u gh th e l o c a l r a d i o . As a r e s u l t, th e h a n d i c r a ft p r o d u c e r s c o u l d n o t k e e p u p wi th o r d e r s fo r th e i r b a s k e ts a n d o th e r n a ti ve p r o d u c ts m a d e o f a wi l d vi n e c a l l e d n i to . I n r e c e n t ye a r s , th e i n te r n a l c o n fl i c t h a s c o m b i n e d wi th l o gi s ti c a l d i ffi c u l ti e s to m a k e l i fe ve r y h a r d fo r th e c o o p e r a ti ve m e m b e r s wh o a r e a l l e n ga ge d i n th e h a n d i c r a ft b u s i n e s s . D a tu La b S i n s u a t, p r e s i d e n t o f th e c o o p e r a ti ve , s a ys th a t b u s i n e s s u s e d to b e go o d b u t h a s s l o we d d o wn s i n c e th e c o n fl i c t i n te n s i fi e d .

T h e s i tu a ti o n i s th e s a m e i n th e s o u th we s te r n p a r t o f Mi n d a n a o , wh i c h m a d e h e a d l i n e s wi th s e ve r a l k i d n a p p i n g i n c i d e n ts l a s t ye a r . Fe w o u ts i d e r s d a r e to tr a ve l to th i s r e gi o n wh e r e th e p r o vi n c e o f T a wi - T a wi , h o m e l a n d o f th e S a m a p e o p l e wh o a r e k n o wn a s h a r d - wo r k i n g fi s h e r s , i s fo u n d . T h e Mu n i c i p a l i ty o f S i m u n u l i n T a wi - T a wi i s th e s i te o f th e Ka s i - La s a Mu l ti - P u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve , a n o r ga n i za ti o n c o m p o s e d o f S a m a p e o p l e l i vi n g i n th e b a r a n ga ys o f B a k o n g a n d P a n gl i m a Ma s tu l . Th e is la n d is k n o wn a s th e c r a dle o f I s la m b e c a us e it is th e s ite o f th e fir s t m o s q ue e r e c te d i n th e P h i l i p p i n e s b y Ar a b m i s s i o n a r y S h e i k Ka r i m Ul - Ma k d u m i n th e e a r l y 1 4 th c e n tu r y. T r a c e s o f th e p a s t l i ve o n i n s u c h th i n gs a s th e n a m e o f th e o l d e s t b a r a n ga y, wh i c h i s T o n g Gu s o n g, o r Fi r s t S a n d .

E l s e wh e r e i n m a i n l a n d Mi n d a n a o , o n e i s c o n s ta n tl y r e m i n d e d o f th e h i gh l e ve l o f p o l i ti c a l a wa r e n e s s a n d th e r e c e n t h i s to r y o f s o c i a l u n r e s t i n th e r e gi o n . T h e i n d i ge n o u s B ’ l a a n a n d T a ga k a o l o c o m m u n i ti e s i n Ma l u n go n , S a r a n ga n i h a d a h i s to r y o f b e i n g a t o d d s wi th o n e a n o th e r d u e to va r i o u s r e a s o n s . B u t e ve n wi th th a t, th e y b o th h a d to c o n te n d wi th th e r i s i n g n u m b e r o f Vi s a ya n m i gr a n ts wh o fo u n d th e i r wa y to th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n s . E a r l y a tte m p ts to u n i te th e two tr i b a l c o m m u n i ti e s , th r o u gh a s e r i e s o f o r ga n i za ti o n s , d i d n o t s u c c e e d b e c a u s e b o th tr i b e s c o u l d n o t fi n d e n o u gh r e a s o n to ge t a l o n g wi th e a c h o th e r . B u t u n d e r th e I ND I S CO p r o gr a m m e , th e y we r e a b l e to o ve r c o m e th e i r d i ffe r e n c e s , a n d to wo r k to ge th e r th r o u gh a s i n gl e o r ga n i za ti o n c a l l e d th e Ma l u n go n T r i b a l Co n gr e s s o r MALT R I CO . T h i s wa s a n i m p o r ta n t d e ve l o p m e n t fo r th e i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s i n th e a r e a wh o fe l t th e y we r e ge tti n g o ve r s h a d o we d b y th e “ l o wl a n d e r s . ”

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B u t s u c c e s s i ve go ve r n m e n t d e c r e e s e r o d e d th e i r r i gh ts o ve r th e l a n d th e y h a ve p o s s e s s e d a n d o c c u p i e d s i n c e ti m e i m m e m o r i a l . I n fo r m a ti o n a b o u t th e 1 9 0 2 La n d R e gi s tr a ti o n Ac t o f th e Am e r i c a n c o l o n i ze r s fo r e x a m p l e , d i d n o t r e a c h th e h i n te r l a n d s o f Mi n d a n a o wh e r e m a n y o f th e i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s l i ve d . T h e 1 9 0 5 P u b l i c La n d Ac t ga ve th e go ve r n m e n t s o l e c o n tr o l o ve r a l l u n r e gi s te r e d l a n d a n d fr o m 1 9 1 3 to 1 9 1 9 , a s e r i e s o f go ve r n m e n t d e c r e e s l u r e d m i gr a n ts to th e a r e a , r e s u l ti n g i n m i x e d s e ttl e m e n ts th a t a b o u n d i n m u c h o f Mi n d a n a o to d a y. I n 1 9 7 3 , th e n P r e s i d e n t Fe r d i n a n d Ma r c o s ga ve th e De p a r tm e n t o f Na tu r a l R e s o u r c e s c o n tr o l o ve r p u b l i c l a n d s .

I n te n s e l o b b yi n g fr o m i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e ’ s r i gh ts a d vo c a te s r e c e n tl y c h a n ge d go ve r n m e n t p o l i c y o n i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s . T h e m o s t p r o fo u n d r e fo r m s o c c u r r e d d u r i n g th e te r m o f fo r m e r P r e s i d e n t Fi d e l R a m o s , wh e n th e go ve r n m e n t s ta r te d r e c o gn i zi n g th e r i gh t o f i n d i ge n o u s p e o p l e s to th e i r a n c e s tr a l te r r i to r i e s . Fo r th e B ’ l a a n a n d T a ga k a o l o p e o p l e s o f Ma l u n go n , s u c h r e c o gn i ti o n c a m e i n th e fo r m o f a Ce r ti fi c a te o f An c e s tr a l D o m a i n Cl a i m ( CAD C) a wa r d e d to e a c h o f th e two tr i b e s o n Ma y 3 0 , 1 9 9 7 c o ve r i n g a to ta l o f 8 1 , 6 2 8 h e c ta r e s . Ab o u t 1 4 , 0 0 0 T a ga k a o l o s a n d n e a r l y 1 5 , 0 0 0 B ’ l a a n s b e n e fi te d fr o m th e a wa r d , th a t ga ve th e m b a c k s o m e a m o u n t o f c o n tr o l o ve r th e r e s o u r c e s i n th e i r te r r i to r y. E a r l i e r , th e y h a d b e c o m e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t r a m p a n t i l l e ga l l o ggi n g i n th e i r fo r e s ts a n d l o s s o f b i o d i ve r s i ty i n th e r o l l i n g fa r m l a n d a n d r i c h wa te r wa ys . As s i s ta n c e fr o m I ND I S CO h e l p e d th e m tu r n th e ti d e a ga i n s t o u ts i d e r s wh o we r e d e s tr o yi n g th e i r n a tu r a l e n vi r o n m e n t. I t a l s o h e l p e d th e m s te m th e r a m p a n t s e l l i n g o f l a n d b y s o m e c o m m u n i ty m e m b e r s . T h e m u n i c i p a l go ve r n m e n t d i d n o t o p p o s e th e c l a i m b e c a u s e o ffi c i a l s k n e w th e l a n d i s p u b l i c d o m a i n .

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I n th e ye a r s fo l l o wi n g th e fa m o u s E d s a R e vo l u ti o n th a t to o k p l a c e i n 1 9 8 6 , s o m e p r o vi n c e s h a ve m a n a ge d to r e c o ve r fr o m c o n fl i c ts th a t u s e d to d i vi d e th e i r c o m m u n i ti e s . Am o n g th e s e i s B u k i d n o n , wh e r e a c o m m u n i ty u p r i s i n g i n 1 9 7 5 l e d b y th e r e s p e c te d D a tu Lo r e n zo Ga wi l a n , S r . ga ve b i r th to th e Fe d e r a ti o n o f Ma ti gs a l o g a n d Ma n o b o T r i b a l Co u n c i l s o r FE MMAT R I Cs . I n th e e a r l y ye a r s o f Ma r ti a l La w, th e go ve r n m e n t h a d d i vi d e d th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n i n to r a n c h e s a n d a wa r d e d th e s e to i n fl u e n ti a l b u s i n e s s m e n fr o m va r i o u s o r i gi n s . A q u a r r e l b e twe e n o n e o f th e r a n c h e r s a n d a tr i b e s m a n tr i gge r e d th e u p r i s i n g. D a tu Ga wi l a n th e n d e c l a r e d th a t h e wo u l d s u r r e n d e r o n l y i f th e r a n c h e s a r e d i s m a n tl e d . T h e go ve r n m e n t gr a n te d th e d e m a n d a n d s i n c e th e n , Ga wi l a n ’ s gr o u p h a s l o b b i e d vi go r o u s l y fo r th e r e tu r n o f th e l a n d to th e tr i b e s th a t h a d l o n g n u r tu r e d i t.

I n 1 9 9 5 , Ma ti gs a l o g- Ma n o b o tr i b e s a c h i e ve d a m a j o r vi c to r y wh e n th e go ve r n m e n t gr a n te d a Ce r ti fi c a te o f An c e s tr a l D o m a i n Cl a i m to th e m c o ve r i n g 7 7 , 1 3 4 h e c ta r e s o f la n d in 2 0 b a r a n ga ys . Mo s t o f th e la n d is fo un d in th e m o un ta in o us to wn o f Ki ta o ta o i n B u k i d n o n , b u t th e c e r ti fi c a te a l s o c o ve r s th r e e b a r a n ga ys e a c h i n th e a d j o i n i n g m u n i c i p a l i ti e s o f Ar a k a n i n n o r th Co ta b a to a n d Ma r i l o g i n D a va o Ci ty. Fe e l i n g h a p p y th a t p e a c e h a s r e tu r n e d to th e i r fe r ti l e h o m e l a n d , l o c a l fa r m e r s a r e n o w m o r e p r e o c c u p i e d wi th p e s ts th a t m a y a tta c k th e i r c r o p s th a n wo r k i n g to a vo i d ge tti n g c a u gh t i n th e c r o s s fir e .

Fo r th e Ma n gya n p e o p l e o f Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o , r e c l a i m i n g th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n h a s r e m a i n e d a d r e a m . Wi th o p p o s i ti o n to th e i r a n c e s tr a l d o m a i n c l a i m s s ti l l e vi d e n t, i t m a y ta k e s o m e ti m e b e fo r e th a t d r e a m b e c o m e s a r e a l i ty.

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T h e i n fl u e n c e o f o u t s i d e r s i s n o t m u c h o f a p r o b l e m fo r t h e Ka n k a n a e y p e o p l e i n t h e m u n i c i p a l i t y o f B a k u n i n t h e Co r d i l l e r a M o u n t a i n s . E ve n t h o u g h m a n y h a ve c o n ve r te d to We s te r n r e l i g i o n s , Ch r i s ti a n r i te s a r e u s u a l l y m i x e d wi th i n d i g e n o u s r i tu a l s s u c h a s th e l a wi t o r r e q u i e m m a s s fo r th e d e a d . I t h a s p r o b a b l y h e l p e d th a t t h e c o m m u n i t y i s fa i r l y h o m o g e n o u s , wi t h o n l y a fe w l o wl a n d e r s m a r r i e d t o l o c a l wo m e n c o m p r i s i n g a m i n i m a l e t h n i c m i x . Ca ve b u r i a l s a r e s t i l l p r a c t i c e d b y s o m e c l a n s fo r d e s e r vi n g m e m b e r s , d e p e n d i n g o n th e i r s ta tu s , e s p e c i a l l y fo r th e k a d a n gya n o r r i c h p e o p l e . T h e s e d a ys h o we ve r , th e m o r e p r e va l e n t c u s to m i s to b u r y th e d e a d i n o n e ’ s b a c k ya r d .

Ne s t l e d b e t we e n fo r e s t e d s l o p e s i n t h e m i s t y m o u n t a i n s , t h e t o wn o f B a k u n i s h o m e t o M o u n t Ka b u n i a n , wh i c h i s c o n s i d e r e d a h o l y s i t e . I n t h e l o c a l l a n g u a g e , B a k u n m e a n s d i p p e r , wh i c h d e s c r i b e s t h e b o wl - s h a p e d va l l e y a n d t h e h a n d l e - l i k e r i ve r th a t r u n s th r o u g h i t. T h e to wn p r o p e r wa s r e l o c a te d to th e m o r e a c c e s s i b l e

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b a r a n g a y o f Am p u s u n g a n , w h e r e t h e o f f i c e o f t h e B a k u n I n d i g e n o u s T r i b e s O r g a n i z a t i o n ( B I T O ) i s l o c a t e d . Al t h o u g h i t ’ s o n l y e i g h t y k i l o m e t e r s f r o m B a g u i o Ci t y, i t t a k e s t h r e e h o u r s t o r e a c h t h e a r e a a l o n g t h e r o u g h a n d s l i p p e r y Ha l s e m a R o a d . T i d y r o ws o f ve g e t a b l e s s u c h a s c a b b a g e , c a r r o t s , l e t t u c e , a n d c u c u m b e r g r a c e t h e t e r r a c e d p l o t s a s f a r a s t h e e ye c a n s e e . B I T O c h a i r m a n T i r s o B a ya wa , wh o i s a l s o t h e vi c e m a yo r o f B a k u n , s a ys t h e Ch i n e s e i n t r o d u c e d ve g e t a b l e f a r m i n g i n t h e a r e a i n t h e 1 9 5 0 s . Wh e n t h e Ch i n e s e l e f t b e c a u s e t h e y d i d n o t h a ve e n o u g h l a n d , t h e i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e t o o k o ve r a n d t h e ve g e t a b l e f a r m s h a ve t h r i ve d s i n c e t h e n .

I n 1 9 9 6 , vi l l a g e l e a d e r s a u t h o r i z e d t h e m a yo r t o a p p l y f o r a c e r t i f i c a t e o f a n c e s t r a l d o m a i n c l a i m f o r B a k u n . T h e D E NR l a t e r r e c o g n i z e d 2 9 , 3 4 6 h e c t a r e s o f a n c e s t r a l d o m a i n c o ve r i n g a l m o s t t h e e n t i r e m u n i c i p a l i t y o f B a k u n , wi t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e Am b u k l a o wa t e r s h e d , t o t h e 1 3 , 0 0 0 B a g o a n d Ka n k a n a e y p e o p l e . T h e c l a i m i n c l u d e s 4 0 0 p r i va t e t i t l e s e s t i m a t e d t o c o ve r 2 0 0 h e c t a r e s . T h e c e r t i f i c a t e wa s a wa r d e d o n M a r c h 1 3 , 1 9 9 8 , j u s t a s t h e I ND I S CO p r o g r a m m e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n wa s a b o u t t o s t a r t .

O f t e n , t h e p u b l i c p e r c e p t i o n o f i n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s i s c o n f i n e d t o i m a g e s o f f o r e s t d we l l e r s i n G- s t r i n g o r c h e c k e r e d wr a p s k i r t s wi t h n a t i ve b a s k e t s o n t h e i r h e a d s . B u t t h e r e a r e a l s o t r i b a l p e o p l e wh o h a ve e i t h e r vo l u n t a r i l y l e f t o r we r e f o r c i b l y d i s p l a c e d f r o m t h e i r h o m e l a n d . T h e y a r e n o w s e e k i n g a n e w l i f e i n u r b a n a r e a s , s t r u g g l i n g t o s u r vi ve i n a n u n f a m i l i a r wo r l d .

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I n a r e s e t t l e m e n t a r e a i n B o t o l a n , Z a m b a l e s , Ae t a f a m i l i e s wh o b e l o n g t o t h e S a m a h a n g Ka t u t u b o n g M a s i k a p d o n ’ t h a ve m u c h o f a p r o b l e m r e m e m b e r i n g t h e i r b a c k g r o u n d . Y o l a n d a Ab r i g o , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e a s s o c i a t i o n , r e c a l l s wi t h p r i d e t h a t vi s i t o r s f r o m t h e f o r m e r n a va l b a s e i n S u b i c B a y u s e d t o d r o p b y wh e n e ve r t h e y wa n t e d t o s e e a u t h e n t i c Ae t a p e r f o r m a n c e s . Al t h o u g h t h e y h a ve h a d t o a d a p t t o t h e i r n e w l o wl a n d e n vi r o n m e n t f r o m t h e m o u n t a i n s t h a t t h e y u s e d t o i n h a b i t , t h e s m a l l Ae t a c o m m u n i t y o f 7 6 f a m i l i e s h a s n o t f o r g o t t e n i t s i n d i g e n o u s p r a c t i c e s . T h e i r m a i n c o n c e r n i s t h e i r t e n u r e o ve r t h e l a n d , wh e r e t h e y w e r e r e s e t t l e d b y t h e f o r m e r g o ve r n o r d u e t o vi o l e n t i n c i d e n t s i n t h e m o u n t a i n s o f Za m b a l e s n e a r l y 3 0 ye a r s a g o . Un t i l n o w, n o n e o f t h e f a m i l i e s h a s a t i t l e a n d t h e r e a r e t h r e a t s t o e vi c t t h e m .

T h e p i l o t p r o j e c t s i t e s h a ve ye t t o a c h i e ve t h e l e ve l o f d e ve l o p m e n t e n j o ye d b y m a i n s t r e a m s o c i e t y. F a c e d wi t h a m u l t i t u d e o f m o d e r n - d a y c o n c e r n s , t h e y s t r i ve t o m a i n t a i n a s p e c t s o f t h e i r c u l t u r e . Li f e i s a n e ve r - e n d i n g s t r u g g l e t o b a l a n c e t h e i r n e e d t o k e e p u p wi t h t h e p a c e i n m i x e d c o m m u n i t i e s , a n d t h e e f f o r t t o p r e s e r ve t h e h e r i t a g e t h a t g i ve s t h e m a u n i q u e i d e n t i t y i n p o s t - c o l o n i a l t i m e s .

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to sort the threads and decide which colors

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th e fa i l u r e o f a h i gh - p r o fi l e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m b a c k i n th e ‘ 7 0 s th a t wa sn th e d u s ty vi l l a ge o f S i n u d a i n B u k i d n o n , tr i b a l l e a d e r P a q u i to Ub a n r e c o u n ts s u p p o s e d to i m p r o ve th e l i ve s o f i n di ge n o u s c o m m u n i ti e s . A do ze n c a r a b a o s we r e d o n a te d to th e Ma ti gs a l o g a n d Ma n o b o c o m m u n i ti e s , b u t th e a n i m a l s h a d to o m a n y o wn e r s s o th e s e we r e o ve r wo r k e d. He p o in ts to a r o w o f s tun te d m a h o ga n y tr e e s o n th e r o a ds i de , a n d s a ys th o s e we r e p l a n te d 2 5 ye a r s a go fr o m s e e dl i n gs di s tr i b u te d b y th e s a m e p r o gr a m . Ac r o s s th e fi e l d, h e ge s tu r e s to wa r d a n e m p ty b u i l di n g, o n e o f th e “ wh i te e l e p h a n ts ” th a t th e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m h a d c o n s tr u c te d du r i n g th e Ma r ti a l La w ye a r s , wh e n i n fr a s tr u c tu r e p r o j e c ts m u s h r o o m e d a c r o s s th e c o u n tr y.

P r o j e c t m a n a ge r Co s m e La m b a yo n o f FEMMATR I CS a gr e e s wi th Ub a n ’ s o b s e r va ti o n . I n th e p a s t, o th e r a ge n c i e s h a d gi ve n th e m va r i o u s fo r m s o f m a te r i a l a ssista nc e , b ut the e ffo r ts fa ile d due to la c k o f tr a ining. Se e ds o r fe r tilize r fo r insta nc e , we r e di s tr i b u te d to fa r m e r s b u t th e y we r e n o t ta u gh t h o w to u s e th e s e i n p u ts p r o p e r l y s o th e i r h a r ve s t r e m a i n e d di s m a l . Th e fe de r a ti o n l a gge d b e h i n d o th e r gr o u p s e s p e c i a l l y i n l o c a l go ve r n a n c e , fa r m i n g o f h i gh - va l u e c r o p s , a n d o th e r s k i l l s . Th e s a m e i l l - p l a n n e d a p p r o a c h wa s a p p l i e d i n th e Ma n gya n vi l l a ge o f B a l a n ga b o n g i n Oc c i d e n ta l Mi n d o r o . S o c i a l wo r k e r s ta u gh t th e tr i b a l c o m m u n i ty to m a k e c o m m e r c i a l i ze d h a m m o c k s s o th e y c o u l d a u gm e n t th e i r i n c o m e , b u t th e p r o du c ts s o l d ve r y c h e a p l y a n d we r e l a b o r - i n te n s i ve a s we l l , e a r n i n g th e m o n l y P1 5 0 fo r th r e e da ys ’ wo r k . I n th e pr o c e s s , th e b us in e s s ve n tur e a ls o de s tr o ye d th e ir tr a ditio n a l c r a ft o f m a k in g h a m m o c k s c a lle d a r ur e o r s a la fuda n . Ofte n , th e y h a d little c h o i c e i n r e s p o n di n g to th e go ve r n m e n t p r o gr a m s . Th e a c ti vi ti e s we r e di c ta te d to th e c o m m u n i ty a n d i f th e y d i d n o t l i k e th e p r o j e c t, i t wa s wi th d r a wn . On th e o th e r h a n d, s o m e n o n - go ve r n m e n t o r ga n i za ti o n s i n th e a r e a s i m p l y ga ve do l e - o u ts to th e tr i b a l c o m m u n i ty, s a ys p r o j e c t m a n a ge r No l i Ha b l o .

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l i ve s . I f th e y m a d e m i s ta k e s , th e y wo u l d h a ve n o o n e to b l a m e b u t th e m s e l ve s . Wh i l e I ND I S CO wo u l d p r o vi d e th e m e a n s fo r th e fe d e r a ti o n to a tta i n i ts go a l s , th e m e m b e r s wo u l d h a ve to l e a r n to ta k e r e s p o n s i b i l i ty fo r c h a r ti n g th e i r o wn d e ve l o p m e n t .

B a luc a pa tie n tly e xpla in e d th e b e a uty o f th e pr o c e s s to villa ge r s in Ea s t Do lo r o n g, wh e r e s h e h e a ds th e tr i b a l c o u n c i l . “ On c e th e y u n de r s to o d i t, th e y a gr e e d wi th th e a p p r o a c h , ” s h e s a ys i n Ce b u a n o . “ Eve n I do n ’ t wa n t to b e gi ve n s o m e th i n g wi th o u t h a vi n g to u s e m y b r a i n s . Th e p r o j e c t h a s e n c o u r a ge d p e o p l e to wo r k , ” s h e a dds .

Ub a n a gr e e s : “ Wi th th e I LO- I NDI S CO p r o gr a m m e , we h a ve l e a r n e d to e a r n a l i vi n g. We we r e ta u gh t h o w to fi s h a n d we we r e n o l o n ge r j u s t gi ve n fi s h . ”

Am o n g o th e r th i n gs , fe d e r a ti o n m e m b e r s h a ve l e a r n e d a l o t fr o m th e va r i o u s k i n d s o f tr a i n i n g c o n d u c te d . Un d e r th e I NDI S CO p r o gr a m , m e m b e r s u n d e r go a p p r o p r i a te tr a i n i n g fi r s t b e fo r e a n a c ti vi ty i s i m p l e m e n te d . Fo r i n s ta n c e , th o s e wh o wa n t to s ta r t a b u y- a n d- s e l l b u s i n e s s a r e tr a i n e d o n b o o k k e e p i n g wh i l e fa r m e r s wh o wa n t to pla n t h igh - va lue c r o ps a r e tr a in e d o n la n d pr e pa r a tio n a n d pr o pe r te c h n iq ue s to ge t a go o d h a r ve s t. Da tu J a c i n to La n to n g, a m e m b e r o f th e FEMMATR I Cs B o a r d o f Tr u s te e s , s a ys o n e r e a s o n th e o r ga n i za ti o n di d n o t c o l l a p s e de s p i te th e da m a ge to c r o p s fr o m El Ni ñ o a n d wa ve s o f p e s ti l e n c e i s th e k n o wl e dge th e y ga i n e d fr o m th e tr a i n i n g o n e n vi r o n m e n ta l a wa r e n e s s .

La m b a yo n s a ys I NDI S CO’ s r e q u i r e m e n t fo r th e gr o u p to m a k e p o l i c i e s o n th e u s e o f d o n a te d e q u i p m e n t b e fo r e p u r c h a s i n g th e m h e l p e d m a k e vi l l a ge r s m o r e r e s p o n s i b l e i n ta k i n g c a r e o f th e fa c i l i ti e s . B e yo n d th e m a te r i a l b e n e fi ts h o we ve r , h e s a ys fe de r a tio n m e m b e r s h a ve r e a lize d th a t th e pr o j e c t’s s uc c e s s c a n a ls o b e m e a s ur e d in th e ir c o lle c tive a n d p e r s o n a l gr o wth , wh ic h a r e n o t r e a dily s e e n . Th e r e is a c h a n ge in a ttitude fr o m th e te n de n c y to live b e yo n d th e ir m e a n s , to pr o pe r b udge tin g a n d p l a n n i n g.

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m a n a ge m e n t a n d a d m i n i s tr a ti o n . Al th o u gh th e p a y wa s l o we r a n d th e s ta ff h a d to p r o vi de vo l u n te e r s e r vi c e s s o m e ti m e s , s h e s a ys th e y l o o k e d a t th e l o n g- te r m de ve l o p m e n t o f th e c o m m u n i ty a n d n o t m e r e l y th e i r p e r s o n a l ga i n fr o m th e p r o j e c t. S i m i l a r o b s e r va ti o n s we r e m a de i n o th e r p i l o t s i te s . Th e tr i b a l c h a i r m a n o f th e Ta u B u i d c o m m u n i ty i n Oc c i de n ta l Mi n do r o s a ys h e a p p r e c i a te s th e fr e e do m gi ve n to th e tr i b e i n c h o o s i n g a n d p l a n n i n g i ts o wn a c ti vi ti e s , wi th th e i r p r o j e c t m a n a ge r s i m p l y th e r e to gu i de th e m a n d p r o vi de a dvi c e wh e n e ve r n e c e s s a r y. Ma r a n a o tr i b a l l e a de r B a i De r o n o f th e Da ya wa n Wo m e n Lo o m We a ve r s As s o c i a ti o n i n La n a o de l Sur wa s a ls o gr a te ful fo r th e s uppo r t s h e r e c e ive d — fr o m th e e x te n s io n wo r k e r wh o r e s p o n ds to th e gr o u p ’ s p r o b l e m s to th e vi l l a ge a n i m a to r s wh o a s s i s t h e r i n m a k i n g r e p o r ts .

I n th e i s l a n d o f S i m u n u l i n Ta wi - Ta wi , Ch a i r m a n Am i l h u s s i n Ab du r a u p s a ys th e gr a s s r o o ts a p p r o a c h h a s gr e a tl y s tr e n gth e n e d th e c a p a b i l i ty o f th e Ka s i La s a Mu l ti -P u r p o s e Co o p e r a ti ve . Afte r th e I NDI S CO p r o j e c t s u p p o r t wa s p h a s e d o u t, th e gr o u p r e m a i n e d ve r y a c ti ve wi th th e s u p p o r t o f th e l o c a l go ve r n m e n t. I n fa c t, Ab d u r a u p s i ts i n b o th th e m u n i c i p a l a n d p r o vi n c i a l d e ve l o p m e n t c o u n c i l s .

I n a ti n y Ae ta vi l l a ge i n B o to l a n , Za m b a l e s , c o m m u n i ty l e a d e r Yo l l y Ab r i go o f th e S a m a h a n g Ka tu tu b o n g Ma s i k a p r e m e m b e r s th e ti m e wh e n o u ts i de r s l o o k e d do wn o n th e m . Vi l l a ge r s wh o wo r k e d a s h i r e d l a b o r e r s i n n e i gh b o r i n g fa r m s o fte n go t a n d s p e n t th e i r p a y i n a dva n c e . P e o p l e th e n c a l l e d Ma s i k a p vi l l a ge “ p a h i m a l a ” o r a p l a c e th a t i s j u s t wa i ti n g fo r m i r a c l e s to h a p p e n a n d b l e s s i n gs to r a i n do wn o n th e m . B a r e ly a ye a r a fte r th e I NDI S CO p r o j e c t s ta r te d h o we ve r , villa ge life h a s i m p r o ve d c o n s i de r a b l y. R e s i de n ts s a y th e i r h o u s e s n o l o n ge r l o o k l i k e p i gp e n s a n d fa m ilie s a r e n o t to o de e p ly in de b t a n ym o r e . “ We n o w p a y c a s h o n de live r y, ” a lo c a l j o k e go e s . Th e y h a ve l e a r n e d to b u dge t th e i r m o n e y wi s e l y a n d s a ve fo r u n e x p e c te d e x p e n s e s l i k e h o s p i ta l i za ti o n .

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An I NDI S CO s ta ff s a ys th e c o n c e p t p r e s e n ts a b e tte r a p p r o a c h c o m p a r e d to o th e r p r o j e c ts fo r i n d i ge n o u s c o m m u n i ti e s th a t c a n s o m e ti m e s b e m a n i p u l a ti ve . “ I f p e o p le c a n m a n a ge th e ir o wn p r o j e c t, th a t’ s th e b e s t wa y to s us ta in it, ” h e s a ys . Th e p r o gr a m di d n o t j u s t l e a ve m a te r i a l e q u i p m e n t a n d fu n ds fo r l o a n s , b u t a l s o a l o t o f s k i l l s tr a i n i n g fo r p e r s o n a l a n d c o l l e c ti ve gr o wth s o th a t c o m m u n i ti e s c a n b e gi ve n a c h a n c e to tr y a n d c h a r t th e i r o wn de ve l o p m e n t.

Th e p i l o t p r o j e c ts u n de r th e I NDI S CO p r o gr a m m e h a ve b e e n fu n de d b y a gr o u p o f do n o r s i n c l u di n g th e Da n i s h I n te r n a ti o n a l De ve l o p m e n t Age n c y ( DANI DA) , th e Ne th e r l a n d s Go ve r n m e n t, th e Ar a b Gu l f P r o gr a m m e fo r Un i te d Na ti o n s De ve l o p m e n t Or ga n i za ti o n s ( AGFUND) , th e R a b o b a n k Fo u n d a ti o n , th e Un i te d Na ti o n s Vo l u n te e r P r o gr a m m e ( UNV) a n d th e P h i l i p p i n e As s o c i a ti o n I n te r n a ti o n a l ( API ) .

Twe lve c o m m un itie s with a c o m b in e d po pula tio n o f m o r e o r le s s 9 0 , 0 0 0 pe o ple , a b o u t h a l f o f th e m wo m e n , h a ve b e n e fi te d di r e c tl y o r i n di r e c tl y fr o m th e s e p r o j e c ts . An e s ti m a te d 2 , 5 0 0 j o b s i n a gr i c u l tu r e , tr a di ti o n a l h a n di c r a ft, fi s h e r y, we a vi n g, a n d c o m m u n i ty s e r vi c e s we r e i n i ti a l l y c r e a te d. As a r e s u l t o f th e n e w r e ve n u e - ge n e r a ti n g a c ti vi ti e s , th e i n c o m e l e ve l s o f p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s h a ve i n c r e a s e d b y a n a ve r a ge o f 4 4 % . Li te r a c y r a te h a s a l s o r i s e n b y 5 0 % du e to i n te n s i ve fu n c ti o n a l l i te r a c y tr a i n i n g i n l o c a l l a n gu a ge s . Mo r e i m p o r ta n tl y, th e s e c o m m u n i ti e s we r e a b l e to s tr e ngthe n the ir indige no us ins titutio ns a nd r e info r c e the fo unda tio ns o f the ir individua l a n d c o l l e c ti ve s e l f- r e l i a n c e .

Eve r s e n s i ti ve to th e i n di ge n o u s p e o p l e s ’ di s ti n c t c u l tu r a l va l u e s a n d ge n e r a l p r e fe r e n c e s , th e I NDI S CO p r o gr a m m e h a s fo l l o we d a n i n te gr a te d a p p r o a c h fo c u s e d o n s ix m a j o r a r e a s : in s titutio n b uildin g, c a pa b ility b uildin g, pr e s e r va tio n a n d pr o m o tio n o f i n di ge n o u s c u l tu r e , i n c o m e a n d e m p l o ym e n t ge n e r a ti o n , n a tu r a l r e s o u r c e s c o n s e r va ti o n a n d e n vi r o n m e n ta l p r o te c ti o n , a n d ge n de r a wa r e n e s s .

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LE ARNI NG HOW TO FI SH

Fo r m o s t, if n o t a ll, o f th e pa r tn e r c o m m un ity m e m b e r s , e a r n in g a livin g th r o ugh e m p l o ym e n t a n d i n c o m e ge n e r a ti o n a c ti vi ti e s s u p p o r te d b y th e I NDI S CO p r o gr a m wa s a p a r a m o u n t c o n c e r n . P o ve r ty i s a m a j o r p r o b l e m i n th e i r to wn s a n d vi l l a ge s , s o i t i s u n de r s ta n da b l e th a t th e l i ve l i h o o d a s p e c t o f th e p r o gr a m m e wa s a we l c o m e de ve l o p m e n t fo r th e m . S ta ti s ti c s c o m p i l e d b y th e n a ti o n a l I NDI S CO c o o r di n a ti n g te a m s h o w th a t a s o f De c e m b e r , 2 0 0 0 a fte r a n a ve r a ge th r e e - a n d- a - h a l f ( 3 . 5 ) ye a r s o f i m p l e m e n ta ti o n , th e p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ti e s we r e a b l e to a c h i e ve a m o de s t i n c r e a s e i n i n c o m e a m o n g di r e c t b e n e fi c i a r i e s a n d c r e a te a n u m b e r o f j o b o p p o r tu n i ti e s wi th th e h e l p o f th e p r o gr a m m e .

REFERENCE: A Summar y Pr of i l e of I NDI SCO Pi l ot Pr oj ect s i n t he Phi l i ppi nes

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T h e m a i n wi n d o w o f o p p o r tu n i ty fo r i n c o m e a n d e m p l o ym e n t ge n e r a ti o n o p e n e d to c o m m u n i ty m e m b e r s wa s th e R e vo l vi n g Lo a n Fu n d. Th i s i s th e c e n tr a l m e c h a n i s m fo r p r o vi di n g a s s i s ta n c e to gr o u p s a n d i n di vi du a l s fo r th e i r l i ve l i h o o d a c ti vi ti e s . Ea c h p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ty wa s r e s p o n s i b l e fo r l o c a l i zi n g th e a p p l i c a ti o n o f its o wn R LF, wh ic h is wh y th e s uc c e s s r a te o f th e fun d va r ie s wide ly. To ge th e r with sk ills tr aining o n a par tic ular tr ade the tr ib al gr o ups wante d to pur sue , plus appr o pr iate e q u i p m e n t b o u gh t fr o m p r o j e c t fu n ds , m e m b e r s wh o a va i l e d o f th e l o a n s a n d u s e d th e m o n e y wi s e l y m a n a ge d to i m p r o ve th e i r e c o n o m i c s ta tu s .

E x a m p l e s o f a c h i e ve m e n ts i n th e 1 2 p i l o t s i te s fo l l o w:

B e fo r e th e I NDI S CO p r o j e c t wa s i n tr o du c e d, th e r e wa s o n l y o n e o r ga n iza tio n o f we a ve r s wh o s e m e m b e r s we r e m o s tly th e la b o r e r s o f th o s e wh o o wn e d a l o o m a n d h a d m o n e y to b u y th r e a d . T h e i r m a i n c o m m u n i ty i s l o c a te d i n Qu i r i n o Hi l l , a m u d d y s e ttl e m e n t i n th e l e s s a ffl u e n t s e c ti o n o f th i s p o p u l a r r e s o r t c i ty. No w th e r e a r e fi ve o f th e s e o r ga n i za ti o n s .

T h e p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n o f I NDI S CO i s th e B a gu i o Ci ty I n d i ge n o u s Wo m e n ’ s Co u n c i l . I t i s p r e s e n tl y c o m p o s e d o f fi ve o r ga n i za ti o n s o f we a ve r s wh o m a k e b l a n k e ts , wa l l d e c o r , a n d k i t b a gs a s we l l a s two a s s o c i a ti o n s o f a m b u l a n t ve n do r s wh o s e ll fr uits , ve ge ta b le s a n d r ic e . Dur in g th e p e a k s e a s o n , a p a ir o f we a ve r s c a n p r o du c e 1 6 do u b l e b l a n k e ts i n o n e da y, wi th e a c h o n e e a r n i n g a n a ve r a ge o f P 5 6 0 fo r 1 2 h o u r s ’ wo r k . Du r i n g th e l e a n s e a s o n h o we ve r , e a c h we a ve r c a n o n ly ge t P8 0 o r b e lo w pe r da y, un le s s th e r e a r e b ig o r de r s o r if th e r e ’ s a tr a de fa ir . To a u gm e n t th e ir in c o m e , b o th we a ve r s a n d ve n do r s h e lp p la n t ve ge ta b le s in th e n u m e r o u s fa r m s a l o n g Ha l s e m a R o a d fr o m J u n e to S e p te m b e r , wh e n th e r e a r e fe w to ur is ts .

Wi th fu n d s fr o m th e p r o gr a m m e , we a ve r s b o u gh t l o o m s a n d s e wi n g m a c h i n e s fo r th e c o m m o n u s e o f m e m b e r s . Th e y c o n d u c te d s k i l l s e x c h a n ge b e twe e n c o m m u n i ti e s o n s e wi n g, k n i tti n g, a n d m a k i n g d e s i gn s . P r o j e c t m a n a ge r Ge r a l d i n e Ca c h o s a ys th e gr o u p h a s a tta i n e d th e s o c i o - e c o n o m i c ta r ge t o f th e p r o j e c t, c o n s i de r i n g th e vi s i b l e i m p r o ve m e n t i n th e l i ve s o f i ts m e m b e r s . Agn e s Da m a s o , c h a i r wo m a n o f th e S a n Ca r l o s He i gh ts wo m e n we a ve r s ’ a s s o c i a ti o n , h a s b u i l t a r o o m y two - s to r e y h o u s e a n d s e t u p a s a r i - s a r i s to r e du r i n g th e th r e e - ye a r p r o j e c t. A fo r m e r c o n tr a c t wo r k e r i n S i n ga p o r e , Da m a s o a u di ts a n d m a n a ge s th e l i ve l i h o o d p r o j e c t fo r h e r a s s o c i a ti o n a n d a l s o h i r e s we a ve r s fr o m th e c o m m u n i ty.

B

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-I n Quir in o Hill, wh e r e s o m e m e m b e r s o f th e pa r tn e r c o m m un ity live , th e s e win g m a c h i n e a n d zi gza g m a c h i n e we r e p l a c e d i n th e m o r e a c c e s s i b l e h o u s e o f c h a i r wo m a n Cr i s ty Gu i n e de n ’ s m o th e r , wh o h a s s p r u c e d u p th e p l a c e a n d b o u gh t h o m e a p p l i a n c e s wi th e a r n i n gs fr o m th e p r o j e c t. T h e l o c a l a s s o c i a ti o n h i r e d two wo r k e r s to s e w th e s c h o o l u n i fo r m s o f e l e m e n ta r y s tu de n ts i n th e b a r a n ga y. Ca c h o s a ys m a n y wo m e n i n Qu i r i n o Hi l l h a ve r e a p e d b e n e fi ts fr o m we a vi n g a s a r e s u l t o f th e I NDI S CO p r o gr a m m e , wi th th e i r h o u s e s n o w a l l i n c o n c r e te . I n Gu i n e d e n ’ s h o u s e , m e m b e r s c a n u s e th r e e s i n gl e l o o m s fo r m a k i n g wa l l de c o r a n d r u gs i n a n o u td o o r s h e d . Dye d fi b e r i s u s e d fo r a typ e o f we a vi n g c a l l e d i k a t to s h o w th e b e a u ty o f th e de s i gn , wh i c h i s o u tl i n e d o n a s h e e t o f p l a s ti c . Th e i r s e l l i n g p r i c e fo r a l a r ge wa l l h a n gi n g m e a s u r i n g 4 8 i n c h e s i s P 4 5 0 , b u t wh e n i t r e a c h e s th e p u b l i c m a r k e t, th e p r i c e j u m p s to P 1 0 0 0 . Al th o u gh th e wo m e n s ti l l we a ve tr a d i ti o n a l de s ign s , th e r e is in c r e a s in g pr e s s ur e to put c o m m e r c ia l to uc h e s s uc h a s th e n a m e o f th e c i ty to a dd va l u e to th e p r o du c t.

Ve ge ta b l e fa r m e r s b e l o n gi n g to th e Ka n k a n a e y a n d B a go p e o p l e s i n B a k u n , th e l o c a l p a r tn e r c o m m u n i ty, ga i n e d th e m o s t fr o m th e l i ve l i h o o d c o m po ne nt o f the pr o j e c t. Me m b e r s use d the ir lo a ns fr o m the RLF to pa y fo r a dditio na l l a b o r a n d b u y fa r m i n p u ts l i k e fe r ti l i ze r a n d s e e ds fo r l e a fy ve ge ta b l e s . Am o n g th e i r c a s h c r o ps a r e s tr in g b e a n s , c uc um b e r , a n d a va r ie ty o f le gum e s . Th e y a ls o pla n t u p l a n d r i c e , l i m a b e a n s , a n d gi n ge r fo r h o m e c o n s u m p ti o n .

B

AKU NAKU N

, B

EN G U ETEN G U ET

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(26)

P o s t- h a r ve s t fa c i l i ti e s a n d e q u i p m e n t b o u gh t fr o m p r o j e c t fu n ds s u c h a s th e r i c e m i l l i n Ka ya p a vi l l a ge , th r e s h e r i n th e p o b l a c i o n , a n d h a n d tr a c to r i n b a r a n ga y B a go h a ve i n s p i r e d m o r e fa r m e r s to go i n to r i c e a n d c o ffe e p r o du c ti o n wh i c h h a s a h i gh e r va l u e . Th e e q u i p m e n t i s e n tr u s te d to l o c a l a s s o c i a ti o n s , wh i c h c h a r ge a c e r ta in a m o un t fr o m villa ge r s fo r th e ir us e . Th e a s s o c ia tio n r e m its th e fun ds us e d to b u y th e e q u i p m e n t to th e o ve r a l l c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n c a l l e d th e B a k u n I n dige n o us Tr ib e s Or ga n iza tio n ( B I TO) ; e xc e s s fun ds go to th e lo c a l villa ge a s s o c ia tio n fo r e x p e n s e s s u c h a s wa ge s o f th e m a c h i n e o p e r a to r . B I TO a l s o h a s a j e e p n e y fo r h ir e th a t is de s c r ib e d a s a “ fo ur - wh e e l dr ive to a n y po in t o f B a k un . ” Th e o ld lo ggin g r o a d s e r ve s a s th e m a in a r te r y fo r th e m un ic ipa lity. Th e j e e p th a t is us e d fo r h a ulin g ve ge ta b l e s a l s o ge n e r a te s a c o n s i de r a b l e a m o u n t o f i n c o m e fo r B I TO th a t wi l l h e l p m a k e i t s e l f- r e l i a n t.

Two ye a r s i n to th e I NDI S CO p r o gr a m m e , th e B I TO h a s i d e n ti fi e d a s e r i e s o f tr a i n i n g n e e ds a s s u gge s te d b y th e c o m m u n i ty m e m b e r s s u c h a s s a l a b a t m a k i n g i n a r e a s with ple n ty o f gin ge r ; s e win g in villa ge s wh e r e th e r e a r e n o ta ilo r s ; a n d tila pia a n d c a r p fi n ge r l i n g p r o du c ti o n i n b a c k ya r d p o n ds , wi th a s s i s ta n c e fr o m th e B e n gu e t S ta te Un i ve r s i ty, to s u p p l y th e i o d i n e a n d p r o te i n n e e d s o f i n l a n d c o m m u n i ti e s i n a n d a r o u n d B a k u n .

Th e c o m m u n i ty, th r o u gh th e B I TO, h a s a l s o p u t u p a c o ffe e n u r s e r y to s u p p l y s e e dlin gs fo r c la n - o wn e d tr e e fa r m s . Co ffe e c a n b e in te r - c r o ppe d with a fa s t- gr o win g

I n t he vi l l age of Dal i pey, BI TO bui l t a t r amli ne

used t o t r anspor t veget abl es up t he r oad and

f er t i l i zer down t o t he f ar m. The 1- ki l omet er

monot r am can car r y 200 ki l os on a 40- ki l o

“bucket ” whi ch i s act ual l y a r ect angul ar met al

case. A mot or i zed pul l ey usi ng cabl e and nyl on

get s t he l oad up and down, an i nnovat i on

r el yi ng on l ocal t echnol ogy. Locat ed at t he

back of an abandoned heal t h cent er , t he mai n

par t of t he cont r apt i on consi st s of a mot or and a “dr i ver ’ s seat , ” much l i ke a vehi cl e mi nus t he

body and t he wheel s, t hat r uns t he pul l ey. I t has r esul t ed i n savi ngs of 60% i n l abor cost s and

cut by 70% t he t i me spent i n haul i ng. Bef or e, i t used t o t ake 15 peopl e t o car r y a days l oad

f or 12 hour s up or down t he t wo r i dges. W

i t h t he t r aml i ne, i t onl y t akes t hr ee hour s and

f ar mer s pay a mi ni mal amount f or ever y ki l o car r i ed i n t he sack.

A C

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a n d n i tr o ge n - fi x i n g tr e e c a l l e d a ln o s, wh ic h h a s s uc k e r r o o ts a n d le a ve s th a t a r e go o d fo r m u l c h wh e n th e y fa l l . Th e r e a r e a l s o p l a n s to go i n to c o ffe e p r o c e s s i n g a s p r o du c ti o n o f th e c r o p i n c r e a s e s .

I t is diffic ult to q ua n tify in c r e a s e in in c o m e a s fa r m e r s fe a r th e y m igh t b e c a lle d b o a s tfu l s o th e y s i m p l y s a y, “t a m a la n g” o r j u s t- e n o u gh , s a ys p r o j e c t m a n a ge r Am o s B e ta - a . Th e r e we r e n o tic e a b ly m a n y n e w ve h ic le s a m o n g ve ge ta b le fa r m e r s th o u gh . La b o r e r s a r e h i r e d fr o m a s fa r a s R e gi o n 1 a n d p a i d P 1 0 0 a da y p l u s fo o d a n d l o d gi n g

Th e c o m m u n i ty r e c e n tl y p u t u p a n e w c o o p e r a ti ve wh i c h , B e ta - a s a ys , wo u l d s e r ve a s th e b us in e s s a r m o f B I TO. Ea c h a c tivity h a s a s a vin gs a c c o un t s o a ll e xpe n s e s a n d e a r n i n gs a r e r e c o r de d, a l th o u gh fi n a n c i a l m a n a ge m e n t i s c e n tr a l i ze d.

I n b a r a n ga y Ea s t Da l u r o n g, 1 6 0 Ma ti gs a l o g- Ma n o b o fa m ilie s we lc o m e d th e a r r iva l o f a n e w c o r n s h e lle r in 1 9 9 9 . Ea c h fa r m e r pa ys a r e n t o f P 2 p e r c a n o f m i l l e d c o r n . P r o j e c t m a n a ge r Co s m e La m b a yo n s a ys th e s i te wa s c h o s e n b e c a u s e o f i ts h i gh vo l u m e o f c o r n p r o d u c ti o n . T h e c o r n i s s o l d a t th e Po n tia n m a r k e t in n e a r b y Que zo n to wn . So fa r , th e c o un c il h a s n e tte d P5 , 0 0 0 fr o m th e c o r n s h e l l e r . Ha l f o f th e r e ve n u e s go to th e l o c a l c o u n c i l , a q u a r te r to th e fe d e r a ti o n , a n d th e r e s t i s s p e n t fo r fu e l a n d m a i n te n a n c e o f th e fa c i l i ty. Th e l o c a l c o u n c i l b e l i e ve s i t c a n m a i n ta i n th e c o r n s h e l l e r b y i ts e l f o n c e I NDI S CO p r o j e c t s u p p o r t i s p h a s e d o u t b e c a u s e i t h a s p r e p a r e d a de q u a te l y fo r th a t e ve n tu a l i ty. La m b a yo n a d d s th a t th e c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n , th e Fe d e r a ti o n o f Ma ti gs a l o g-Ma n o b o Tr ib a l Co un c ils ( FEMMATR I Cs ) , is r e a dy to a s s is t th e lo c a l c o un c il if th e r e is a m a j o r p r o b l e m wi th th e m a c h i n e r y.

Th e c o r n s h e lle r h a s r e s ulte d in h uge s a vin gs fo r lo c a l fa r m e r s , wh o c a n h a r ve s t th e i r m a i n c r o p two to th r e e tim e s a ye a r . Th e y n o lo n ge r h a ve to h a u l u n h u s k e d c o r n to P o n ti a n , wh i c h c o s ts a b o u t P 2 0 fo r th r e e s a c k s . S in c e th e p r o j e c t is s till n e w, th e y h a ve n o e s ti m a te s o n in c r e a s e d in c o m e ye t. Th e c o r n s h e l l e r c a n b e p u l l e d b y c a r a b a o to

K

I T AI TA OTOT AA OO

, B

U KI D N O NU KI D N O N

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o th e r a r e a s . I t c a n r e m o ve th e k e r n e ls fr o m th e h us k a t a r a te o f 1 0 0 s a c k s pe r h o ur . Th e tr i b a l c o u n c i l h a s a fi r s t c o m e , fi r s t s e r ve p o l i c y a n d n o s p e c i a l tr e a tm e n t i s gi ve n to a n y gr o u p o f fa r m e r s . Th e s h e l l e r c o ve r s a b o u t 8 , 0 0 0 h e c ta r e s o f l a n d i n two b a r a n ga ys p l a n te d wi th c o r n . Oth e r p l a n ts i n th e a r e a a r e m o n go , b e a n s , a n d le a fy ve ge ta b le s .

An o th e r p r o j e c t i s a fi s h p o n d i n b a r a n ga y S i n u da s to c k e d wi th ti l a p i a a n d c a r p . I t c o n s i s ts o f two a dj o i n i n g fi s h p o n ds i n a s wa m p y a r e a a t th e fo o t o f a h i l l . Wa te r fl o ws fr e e l y fr o m a c r e e k u p s tr e a m i n to th e d a m m e d p o n d a n d o u t to a c a n a l . Du c k s i n th e p o n d e a t th e s n a i l s . T h e o wn e r i s a m e m b e r o f th e c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n wh o p a i d fo r a l l th e c o s ts , i n c l u d i n g th e P 4 , 0 0 0 n e e d e d to c a r ve th e po n d. Th e fis h a r e fe d va r io us gr a in s ; o n e s a c k o f 5 0 k ilo s th a t c o s ts P1 5 0 is e n o ugh fo r a we e k . Ca r e ta k e r Edwa r d Ca r m e n h a s p l a n te d a n i c e ga r de n wi th c o l o r fu l fl o we r s a n d s m a l l p i n e tr e e s i n fr o n t o f th e h o u s e . Hi s da i l y r o u ti n e i s fe e di n g th e fi s h twi c e a da y a n d te n di n g th e c o r n fa r m i n fr o n t. Th e p o n d r e q u i r e s ve r y l o w m a i n te n a n c e , e x c e p t wh e n h e h a s to r a i s e th e fe n c e du r i n g h e a vy r a i n s to k e e p th e fi s h fr o m j u m p i n g o u t. T h e c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n p r o vi d e d 1 , 0 0 0 fi n ge r l i n gs fo r th e p o n d th a t wa s s e t u p i n De c e m b e r 1 9 9 9 . Th e y e x p e c t to s ta r t h a r ve s ti n g a n e s tim a te d 1 5 0 k ilo s o f tila pia , wh ic h c o s ts a b o ut P4 5 pe r k ilo , in Oc to b e r 2 0 0 0 . Th e c o m m u n i ty o r ga n i za ti o n wi l l s o o n ge t fi n ge r l i n gs fr o m th e p o n d fo r d i s tr i b u ti o n to o th e r a r e a s . S o fa r , fo u r p o n ds h a ve b e e n e s ta b l i s h e d. La m b a yo n s a ys th e p o n d i s th e r e s u l t o f a n i n fo r m a ti o n d r i ve fo r th e l i ve l i h o o d c o m p o n e n t o f th e p r o j e c t.

T h e T a u B u i d c o m m u n i ty o f Ma n gya n s in B a la n ga b o n g villa ge j o in e d tr a in in g a c tivitie s o n duc k r a is in g a n d tila p ia c u l tu r e ; h a n di c r a ft m a k i n g ( n i to p l a te s , b a m b o o h a ts a n d b a gs ) wi th th e Te c h n i c a l E d u c a ti o n a n d S k i l l s De ve l o p m e n t Au th o r i ty; s l o p i n g a gr i c u l tu r a l l a n d te c h n o l o gy a n d pr o duc tio n o f b a n a n a s , r ic e , c o r n , a n d gin