tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24447367353286517562024-03-19T22:45:04.824-07:00Western Basilan Alliance (WBA)“Together, towards a peaceful and prosperous Western Basilan founded on good governance and sustainable economy.”MILABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03912788628489471466noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-17766815861610297552022-08-04T12:22:00.007-07:002022-08-04T12:22:59.591-07:00WBA partners with VSU to develop root crop value chain in Basilan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwqkTVGvBuUHaY-YGqBcnSvd3r_TFAnrxyDOzPuUNZx1neH8tHM8iBKve1VzIlu6VJTGtUkNKNU9pObTuup7Zv_Y2wcT95YB2oiWunDvZ84TbL5lNlplFpz6K_YopvdfeilbzjI-ZNxAEI6dqNUV3A_rSL1CF3tVX_TmUHxEBZwoy4BltlwKVY3NB/s1569/297138284_1414739329004939_8874287270090274176_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1569" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwqkTVGvBuUHaY-YGqBcnSvd3r_TFAnrxyDOzPuUNZx1neH8tHM8iBKve1VzIlu6VJTGtUkNKNU9pObTuup7Zv_Y2wcT95YB2oiWunDvZ84TbL5lNlplFpz6K_YopvdfeilbzjI-ZNxAEI6dqNUV3A_rSL1CF3tVX_TmUHxEBZwoy4BltlwKVY3NB/w400-h209/297138284_1414739329004939_8874287270090274176_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prof Marlon Tambis, PhilRootcrops Deputy Director, explains the benefits<br />of root crops at the start of the WBA Training on Rootcrop Production.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />August 3, 2022 (Isabela City) – Selected farmers from the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) assembled in Isabela City for capacity training on root crop production. The training was conducted by a team from the Philippine Center for Root Crop Research and Training Center (PhilRootcrops) stationed at the Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte.<div><br />Mayor Hanie Bud, the interim WBA chairperson, said PhilRootcrops has been tapped as an institutional consultant. Aside from the training on root crop production, other components of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by the parties include pilot production of two (2) varieties of cassava and another two (2) varieties of sweet potatoes suited for food consumption, setting up a root crop processing center in Western Basilan to be hosted by one of the WBA-member LGUs, two (2) batches of the training of trainers on root crop product processing and marketing workshop.</div><div><br />Mayor Bud added that this is one of the many development initiatives they have in line to spur and sustain the growth of the alliance. Earlier initiatives include the WBA DXPW 99.1FM radio station and the WBA CRM Center.</div><div> <br />Provincial Administrator Manny Muarip reiterated Basilan Governor Jim Hataman’s interest in focusing on strengthening farmers’ food security and livelihood, which was greatly affected by the cocolisap infestation that devastated the local coconut industry, and the aspiration of opening alternative livelihood and enterprise complementary to the two dominant local industries – rubber and coconut. Aside from this, the Provincial Government and the WBA are also working on coastal resources management through capacitating local personnel on participatory coastal resources assessment and working with the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) to develop the CRM priorities for the next three years.</div><div> <br />PhilRootcrops Senior Agriculturist Dioscoro Bolatete expressed optimism that the trainees will be able to apply their learning and commence land preparation in the pilot farms.</div><div> <br />PhilRootcrops will continue to provide expert advice as the farmers progress with their initial production journey using the PhilRootcrops technology learned in the training.</div><div><br />The new technologies spanning production to processing to marketing provided by PhillRootcrops come at a time of improved security conditions in the province.</div><div> <br />PhilRootcrops Deputy Director Marlon Tambis said the prevailing peacefulness presents an opportunity for Basileños to improve their economic situation and for PhilRootcrops to be engaged in the province as part of the realization of its mandate as a national agency tasked with research, development and extension.</div><div> <br />WBA Technical Working Group (TWG) lead facilitator January Zanoria noted how member LGUs are keen to develop the root crop value chain, beginning with the identification of pilot sites and the core group of farmers who will manage the production and mobilization of local staff and partners who will be trainers and advocates of root crop products by popularizing their many uses and income-generating prospects.</div><div> <br />The LGUs have already directed their respective local agriculture staff who will be actively involved across the value chain.</div><div> <br />The first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan, WBA is supported by the Spanish aid agency AECID through the IAG-implemented Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) project in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-5346761729428693532022-07-11T17:19:00.003-07:002022-07-12T17:55:52.033-07:00AECID and IAG-supported WBA organizes Dive Center and opens opportunity for women<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp_LiUzHfoXqwz-zzwm8zcbBeJX0J3IhiN1KiWxf9wBkqCAg8vgiQ4hE_L_A4sZvqc05e16dz_5rq3yZ8KpTKeWe6-HKv46XvcgyiWPY9G-exAtRTWQQzkiox7FXFo8zxKWnoQNeUA0I6ZS3MiS001btE866Kh78pm26SiihxuDVtOhA6ZZUCihfu/s1058/WBA%20women.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1058" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEp_LiUzHfoXqwz-zzwm8zcbBeJX0J3IhiN1KiWxf9wBkqCAg8vgiQ4hE_L_A4sZvqc05e16dz_5rq3yZ8KpTKeWe6-HKv46XvcgyiWPY9G-exAtRTWQQzkiox7FXFo8zxKWnoQNeUA0I6ZS3MiS001btE866Kh78pm26SiihxuDVtOhA6ZZUCihfu/w400-h300/WBA%20women.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Maluso, Basilan (July 12, 2022) - CMAS-certified divers from within the Western Basilan Alliance convene today in this town for a training package that aims to build their capacity to operate and sustain the WBA Dive Center. <br /><br />According to Noor Saada, MILAB Project manager, the WBA Dive Center is envisioned as a social enterprise for the alliance while sustaining the competence of their CMAS-certified divers and promoting sustainable tourism within the alliance through a wide range of exciting and waiting-to-be-explored dive sites. <br /><br />Sarah Miguel Tahajid, one of the CMAS-certified divers assigned to operate the WBA Dive Center, says, she is happy and excited to be part of this engagement and looks forward to visit the pre-identified dive sites. According to her, even if she is a native-born of the place, she has not been able to explore many beautiful places around WBA. <br /><br />Another female participant and CMAS-certified diver, Gernie Tadjah-Ladjaalam, says, feels lucky to be part of the initiative. According to her, this dive center is a rare but timely opportunity, to capacitate local personnel and open up an opportunity for women employees. Being a woman and part of the process builds up her competence that she can be on par with her male colleagues. Divers and diving have always been for men. With their participation, they now believe that women can be divers, too.<br /><br />Sarah and Gernie are among the trainees of the WBA Dive Center training package that starts yesterday and is to run until July 24th. During this period they will be trained on proper set-up, maintenance, utilization, and storage of equipment; snorkeling, free diving and introduction to SCUBA as among the services to be offered by the center; identifying dive sites properly and testing the dive equipment to be donated by the AECID-funded MILAB project; work out the menu, tariff and promotional materials for the dive center and write all their learnings into an operations guide for their use and to guide their services and interactions with center clients. <br /><br />WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments. <br /><br />
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</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-18672752733704999982022-07-10T07:43:00.004-07:002022-07-10T07:44:22.978-07:00WBA taps VSU PhilRootcrops for Rootcrops-based Livelihood Program in Basilan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLBm8aQld-r7IE9LmrDfnkrIlHSeRexKS33iqBQcrNadvsZP646oG8zyfDdPTloCTfwcR1sg2toEdzbldFV3FDp1dWQ9YTvQiFr8cQ0JHiia9Rhav8gHsvgvVv_wC1U3yfvQRZks-8CllBa0gHCVUwZvaeUyoaFp6brM6R3bUgFAEdRKwfQMoUYij/s2048/284707358_557381416016548_5851900443528215530_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLBm8aQld-r7IE9LmrDfnkrIlHSeRexKS33iqBQcrNadvsZP646oG8zyfDdPTloCTfwcR1sg2toEdzbldFV3FDp1dWQ9YTvQiFr8cQ0JHiia9Rhav8gHsvgvVv_wC1U3yfvQRZks-8CllBa0gHCVUwZvaeUyoaFp6brM6R3bUgFAEdRKwfQMoUYij/w400-h300/284707358_557381416016548_5851900443528215530_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">VSU PhilRootcrops and WBA personnel visiting Lantawan mayor Nursiya Ismael<br />and briefing her on PhilRootcrops and opportunities in root crop-based livelihood programs.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>VSU PhilRootcrops' New Mission in Basilan: Establishment of Root crops-based Livelihood Program</b><br /><br /><div>The Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) project of the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) deliberated the establishment of a livelihood program as a subject or focus for their alliance building in the western part of the province of Basilan, especially since one of the major crops in the area, the coconut, has been affected by the infestation of the Cocolisap.</div><div> <br />The IAG-MILAB, which focuses on alliance building and on how it benefits the allied parties, has already formed the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) which would be the recipient of the planned livelihood program. WBA is currently composed of 4 municipalities which are the Maluso, Lantawan, Sumisip and Tabuan Lasa. Among the other subjects for alliance-building are resource protection, peace promotion, improved communication, etc.</div><div> <br />The establishment of a root crop-based livelihood program has been considered by MILAB as root crops, especially cassava, are already a staple food in Basilan. In fact, there is already an existing value chain for basic food like the puto (pyuto) made from cassava. However, concerned stakeholders reported gaps like the low shelf life of its raw material, the panggi, or the semi-dried grates that only last for a week.</div><div> <br />With this, MILAB reached out to PhilRootcrops and asked for technical assistance. As a response, a team from VSU PhilRootcrops went to Basilan to help assess and plan how to improve the food value chains of cassava and other rootcrops in the area.</div><div> <br />“Gusto na po namin mag-graduate sa panggi.” (We want to graduate from panggi.) This has been stated by one of the members of WBA.</div><div> <br />The need to expand the value chains has sparked from the necessity of the locals to innovate from panggi and other food products from root crops, as well as due to the Cocolisap infestation in the area that affected their coconut industry, and the need to enhance the peace and order situation in the area. The center plans to enhance the value chains by extending the shelf life of the primary/intermediate products such as grates and making them storable and more tradable like dried grates and flour. The center will provide its technologies and machines developed for the utilization of cassava and other root crops into high-value processed products.</div><div> <br />The initiative will be a partnership effort of the VSU PhilRootcrops, the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG), the Provincial Government of Basilan, and the formed alliance among the municipalities in the Western part of the province or the WBA. The parties agreed during the meeting to have piloting of root crops production area, training on production and processing of root crops, and capacitate the players in the value chain. Among the other things discussed was the possible establishment of PhilRootcrops extension in the Bangsamoro region or to be one of the ministries under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).<br /><br />Reference: PhilRootcrops FB Page - <a href="https://web.facebook.com/philrootcrops">https://web.facebook.com/philrootcrops</a><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-45447078071333822812022-03-28T14:23:00.012-07:002022-03-29T14:29:41.566-07:00WBA conduct actual visits to Zamboanga City markets for their fresh and dried seafood produce<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeEMhcd9PPzonWVbCTvEZiFRmhTmNcvcjW8lpdTxofCGrnMu59y5CIVcBrwYW4kuDoJGWzi3yVfsEQcEJZ4ZS3Js4E4zrKCvPjpmQn1hUMALvBGVbSmzb4YSX05QN3yFo0Qdt_JSXWddY_o0ulfVu6CDk2rzAso4MelxQufGSmg5jpEPR3FJasqNp/s620/277590789_679656629848844_8451380052810357329_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="620" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeEMhcd9PPzonWVbCTvEZiFRmhTmNcvcjW8lpdTxofCGrnMu59y5CIVcBrwYW4kuDoJGWzi3yVfsEQcEJZ4ZS3Js4E4zrKCvPjpmQn1hUMALvBGVbSmzb4YSX05QN3yFo0Qdt_JSXWddY_o0ulfVu6CDk2rzAso4MelxQufGSmg5jpEPR3FJasqNp/w400-h185/277590789_679656629848844_8451380052810357329_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">WBA participants interact with mall personnel of
the KCC Mall de Zamboanga and <br />understand its procurement of fresh, dried, and
processed seafood products.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Zamboanga City (March 29, 2022) - Municipal agriculturists, the office of the provincial agriculturist, provincial and municipal planning and development coordinators, provincial and municipal administrators, alliance management office staff, and officials from the BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) visit today selected markets in the city for their fresh and dried seafood products.<br /><br />The first stop was at KCC Mall de Zamboanga City, where WBA, Basilan Provincial Government, and MAFAR personnel observe the products sold and the transaction at the fresh seafood market inside the mall. They also observe the dried fish stall and review processed seafood and local products on display from various food processors within the region. They interact with mall personnel in charge of procurement and replenishment, clarify mall product standards and business processes, and gather contact details. <br /><br />The second stop is at Talon-Talon Loop, the dried fish center of the city, where participants interact with a big-time dried fish buyer to understand the supply and demand for dried fish around Mindanao as well as sourcing, product standards, pricing (buying and selling) scheme, and transport and logistics. They appreciate the huge cold storage facility constructed by the owner to maintain shelf life and to serve as a buffer for high season when demand for dried fish is high and supply is low. The participant also interact with a big-time fish drier where they saw actual salting and drying processes and the standards being followed at every step of the way. <br /><br />The third and final stop is interaction with a fish broker facilitating buying and selling of fresh seafood at the city’s main market. The fish broker also explains how products are being sourced from the BARMM island provinces, transported to the city, and in transit to local markets and markets throughout Mindanao. <br /><br />According to Prof Francis Arroyo, the marketing consultant, today’s activity combines access to and first-hand interaction with mall market, fish drier and distributor, and brokers in Zamboanga City. This will give participants grounded experiences as they explore marketing as a WBA strategy to assist their local fisherfolks and traders by connecting the latter to markets in Zamboanga City and beyond.<br /><br />The remaining two days provide the participants an opportunity to reflect on the marketing viability and find creative and efficient ways to operate it WBA-wide and sustainably. <br /><br />WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-38166949650550432922022-03-27T11:51:00.011-07:002022-03-28T11:58:16.413-07:00WBA undertakes marketing tour<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvyeUWPiRhoKGMKySsH8DRXiwXoPo96FGH1b-aRtLHtiLgtFpReKPxzyek_DhsQ8N0fuRvmY6xj2Xf2hWE8F3VyUjut9MzYpGDNcGoJvfwOctFivnuW8YCn9rCy3QG4RhP_TD0XJiNCgDURk5b48AMbRzAj-CvSu7QZO-4KFDlqSaxAUu-PxvQY4N/s2048/277521432_2815232898776623_7669717695168296289_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvyeUWPiRhoKGMKySsH8DRXiwXoPo96FGH1b-aRtLHtiLgtFpReKPxzyek_DhsQ8N0fuRvmY6xj2Xf2hWE8F3VyUjut9MzYpGDNcGoJvfwOctFivnuW8YCn9rCy3QG4RhP_TD0XJiNCgDURk5b48AMbRzAj-CvSu7QZO-4KFDlqSaxAUu-PxvQY4N/w400-h300/277521432_2815232898776623_7669717695168296289_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Mayor
Hans Bud of Maluso and interim chair of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA)
welcoming the participants from Basilan Provincial Government, municipalities
of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso and Sumisip, and MAFAR Regional and
Provincial Office. (Photo credit: Municipality of Maluso Facebook)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />March 28, 2022 (Zamboanga City) – The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) commences its marketing tour in this city and is complemented by a workshop to develop its marketing operations guide from today, March 28 up to April 1, 2022. The participants in this joint activity include the municipal agriculturists, the office of the provincial agriculturist, provincial and municipal planning and development coordinators, provincial and municipal administrators, alliance management office staff, and officials from the BARMM Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR). <br /><br />According to Sheila Marie Acquiatan, MILAB Project Coordinator, this activity was based on the earlier value chain analysis and creates a platform for new and shared livelihood opportunities among WBA local governments. Hadji Muhtamad was the proponent of fresh sea produce marketing, while Maluso proposed for marketing of dried sea products. Sumisip was interested in cassava contracting and Lantawan on root crops expansion and processing. <br /><br />Prof Francis Arroyo, the marketing consultant, said, this marketing tour combines access to and first-hand interaction with the mall market, fish drier and distributor, and brokers in Zamboanga City. The workshop begins to think about organizing their operations and marketing their fresh and dried sea produce. This is about capacitating and building sustainability early on in the project cycle.<br /><br />Mayor Hans Bud of Maluso and interim chair of WBA in his welcome address extols the participants to continue supporting the WBA and be active in its activities, such as the one today. He recalls the alliance-building journey from five (5) years ago, when their motivation to work together met with support from the late Fr Eliseo “Jun” Mercado Jr, OMI, lead policy advisor of the Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) who visited the province and his team on a listening tour to see how meaningful and committed the local government executives in pursuing the path of alliance building. Eventually, generating the interest and support of the AECID the Spanish aid agency. <br /><br />Mayor Bud mentions how the WBA is now in its institutionalization phase, standardizing its processes, creating shared livelihood platforms such as the marketing tour this week. He also states how Maluso municipality in its latest strategic planning is aligning its effort with WBA through their peace, environment, and tourism priority. <br /><br />WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-78087119931791501352021-11-26T00:47:00.001-08:002021-11-26T01:35:06.000-08:00WBA enhances skills from cultural to technical diving<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi67hjeA5RIPa_JqOf-9s7QqYeh_q6-LALj_i1inJMz7v_D-6K9zG-CCM4tvBfGE4gxuVdc75YaBsm_tthk6esm3E11WS34-JTbMZ94dWV-XsMTNa6vJuym7rouQLEie7x61rLk-FyH1mBphm7f717kuY3OVk3rH6QmbJNHoCmq7SVWOyQ7bYBCU3fZ=s960" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi67hjeA5RIPa_JqOf-9s7QqYeh_q6-LALj_i1inJMz7v_D-6K9zG-CCM4tvBfGE4gxuVdc75YaBsm_tthk6esm3E11WS34-JTbMZ94dWV-XsMTNa6vJuym7rouQLEie7x61rLk-FyH1mBphm7f717kuY3OVk3rH6QmbJNHoCmq7SVWOyQ7bYBCU3fZ=w400-h300" width="400" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(L to R) Mr Noor Saada, MILAB project manager talking with Sama divers<br />in between the latter's SCUBA dive exercises. </i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Zamboanga City (November 26, 2021) – Among the participants of the ongoing WBA dive training this week are participants from the Sama ethnic group and including Nomer Manisan (Aquaculturist II) and Komonie Janalhatib (Community Affairs Assistant) of Sumisip and Ramil Pakkari (Statistician) of Hadji Muhtamad. The Sama people are a maritime ethnic group that is spread across the Zamboanga Peninsula and the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines. In Basilan, they are found in the island municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad and Tabuan Lasa and along the coasts of the mainland municipalities. <div><br /></div><div>Their swimming and diving skills are passed down from one to another generation, from the elder to the younger, from the fathers to the sons. Sons start with frog swimming, homemade goggles, and in the nude. As they become adolescents, they are still shirtless, but with underwear or shorts by this time. They can swim further and dive deeper mainly to catch fish and other sea products they can sell for livelihood. As they dive deeper, they use stones as sinkers and rope for signal. They also use compressors to be able to dive deep. They resort to deep diving in order to catch highly-prized species, such as kamun (sea mantis), kaulang (lobster), lapu-lapu kubing (leopard grouper), and bat (sea cucumber). <br /><br />The Sama participants lament the beginning loss of indigenous knowledge especially on safety, prevention, and mitigation from the kaomboan (elders) as fewer among the new generation Sama youth venture into traditional fishing in favor of other non-sea livelihoods and for greener pastures. Partly because of this loss, repeated dives had made many of them oblivious to the dangers of abrupt ascent and absence of safety stops, changing underwater current, decompression sickness, and nitrogen narcosis, which through time and frequency had been accepted in the community as part of the hazards of seeking livelihood from the sea; without realizing that these can be prevented with safety and proper training.<br /><br />For the past five days, Sama trainees Nomer Manisan, Komonie Janalhatib, and Ramil Pakkari were exposed to the proper techniques of swimming, diving, and finning; as well as the rudiments of SCUBA diving. Nomer says, he now realized the value of suits. He has come to appreciate the importance of safety beginning with proper breathing, being alert about the environment. He saw that diving can be safe and fun simultaneously if proper prevention, pre-planning, and rules are observed. <br /><br />Ramil expresses his observation about the importance of weights and sinkers which greatly stabilizes the diver's position underwater. He likes now the ability to swim and dive comfortably and with balanced. Komonie notes the crucial points of having a dive buddy and sign communication underwater. With this new ability, he shares that diving can be comfortable knowing that they have prepared safely and had ways to continue communicating underwater. </div><div><br /></div><div>They are in agreement that their exposure to the ongoing training enhanced their pre-existing swimming, diving, and finning skills, and importantly, showed taught them safety measures, and mitigative measures, to avoid dangers and stay on the safe lane. <br /><br />The WBA 7-day dive training they are part of is delivered by the ZSCMST Dive Center and CMAS Philippines. WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-3436716859073716702021-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:002021-11-24T00:00:00.179-08:00Diving for the Star: The CMAS One-Star Dive Certification<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc9esyNSshsexMuQfok7jnRBgzjekZ8DIhMsjFscEdjjZtJmHg9BYmXQ3w7RGPoaWWirGsT-t8QXQmzatfwjKZa-kKxjyVAddqI2LySRwpY66ysFMO2Xu7nuzuALcGfq3cetSpzRS5IJCJ7mXKQ3fCZXqzuQtiB-dnVENaNJPBIIVL9y4yvXh8lTBr=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="960" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhc9esyNSshsexMuQfok7jnRBgzjekZ8DIhMsjFscEdjjZtJmHg9BYmXQ3w7RGPoaWWirGsT-t8QXQmzatfwjKZa-kKxjyVAddqI2LySRwpY66ysFMO2Xu7nuzuALcGfq3cetSpzRS5IJCJ7mXKQ3fCZXqzuQtiB-dnVENaNJPBIIVL9y4yvXh8lTBr=w400-h185" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>Prof Dr Oliver Tito
introduces the academic part of the CMAS one-star dive certification.</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Zamboanga City (November 24, 2021) – The ongoing WBA dive training in this city will run-up to November 29 and is conducted by the Dive Center of the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST). The assessment and certification are through CMAS Philippines. <br /><br />CMAS stands for Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques. In English, it is known as the World Underwater Federation and uses the French acronym CMAS in its logo. It was organized in the 50s, with renowned explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau as its founding president. CMAS offers several training programs, such as recreational diving, snorkeling, specialty diving, technical diving, and leadership diving with specialty grades. CMAS is recognized by international organizations, such as the Olympic, The World Games, Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), UNESCO, and International University Sports Federation (FISU). <br /><br />The WBA dive training is geared towards CMAS One Star Diver certification (also known as CMAS* diver or CMAS*). CMAS defines a one-star diver as one “who is competent in the safe and correct use of all appropriate open-water scuba diving equipment in a sheltered water training area and is ready to gain open-water diving experience in the company of an experienced diver”. <br /><br />The academics part of one-star diver training program covers the selection, purpose, and function of diving equipment; the purpose and use of diving signals; diving physics; medical problems related to diving; use of dive tables and dive computers; the function and use of scuba equipment; the mechanisms of respiration and circulation; the use of buoyancy devices; comparison and selection of diving suits and ancillary equipment; methods for care and maintenance of equipment; accident prevention, self-rescue and buddy rescue – including the theory of emergency ascent, towing, expired air ventilation and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; diving procedures, the role of the dive leader, the importance of planning and preparation; and the selection of dive sites, the effect of weather and tides, hazards, the importance of conservation. <div><br /></div><div>The practicum side of one-star diver training program covers assembly and fitting of scuba equipment; entry and exit; surface swimming with full scuba equipment; proper weighting, buoyancy; clearing and replacing mask and mouthpiece; out-of-air emergency procedures, using a secondary air supply; controlled buoyant lift; diver assistance techniques, towing and landing a casualty; employing expired air ventilation and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; underwater removal and replacement of scuba and ballast systems; and simple under-water navigation. Practicum includes confined and open water dives. <br /><br /></div><div>For the 22 WBA trainees, lectures will be at the La Azotea, Garden Orchids Hotel; confined water practicum at the hotel's swimming pool; and the open water practicum will be at the Simariki Ancestral Domain. Written and practical assessment will be on the last day of training and passers will be issued the CMAS one-star dive certificate and identification card. <br /><br />WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-35751731827381351932021-11-23T17:37:00.004-08:002021-11-23T17:46:22.939-08:00ZSCMST President inspires WBA dive trainees<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBdWuGW66L1Oox1Cv08X9V6i-Cr87dvPnxmtmK5Mo9N9wKePN7hWX7PblXUxulwTFXgPYccBka6S2nxn21pYAw5I82dWA6jAz2I5mEwCkRappiKDy5o1SKlR7t0amEnve9dxx_W6kpi7YcZLiCzsTF2ut3J0ROu9zrq9iRb94FIhBwivcYF-hATl75=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="2048" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiBdWuGW66L1Oox1Cv08X9V6i-Cr87dvPnxmtmK5Mo9N9wKePN7hWX7PblXUxulwTFXgPYccBka6S2nxn21pYAw5I82dWA6jAz2I5mEwCkRappiKDy5o1SKlR7t0amEnve9dxx_W6kpi7YcZLiCzsTF2ut3J0ROu9zrq9iRb94FIhBwivcYF-hATl75=w400-h328" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>ZSCMST President Prof Dr Jaime G. Jalon reflects on his past experiences about Basilan before the pandemic. He considers Basilan his second home. He urges participants to seize this rare opportunity.</i></span></span></span><i>(Photo credit: ZSCMST Media Team)</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Zamboanga City (November 23, 2021) – Participants from the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, and Sumisip, and the Basilan Provincial Government, convene today for their 7-day dive training and 3-day training on participatory coastal resources assessment (PCRA), from November 23 to December 3, 2021, here in the city. Each WBA municipality and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist is allotted four (4) trainee-slots, plus two (2) trainee-slots for the WBA Dive Shop. <br /><br />WBA AMO manager Mr Zia Ulhaq Basa welcomes the participants and expresses his gratitude to the MILAB Project and to ZSCMST for supporting their alliance through this training program. As mentioned by Mr Basa, this training program is delivered in partnership with the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST) through a memorandum of understanding signed with the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG). Leading the ZSCMST management team in the opening program today is no less than its President, Prof Dr Jaime G. Jalon, together with Prof Arthur Panganiban, Director for Research and Development and Prof Marlon Omatang, Director for Training and Extension Services. <br /><br /> Also part of the management and leading the 11-person training team is Prof Dr Oliver Tito, Dean of the College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences and concurrent Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension Services. Other members of the training team present in the opening program are Victoria Lim, Chairperson of the Chemistry Department; Angelo Macario, Masters in Fisheries Management Program Adviser; Annie Gonzales, Marine Biology Program Adviser; Kathleen Dalope, Fisheries Program Adviser; Rolando Pelingon, Faculty, College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences; and Kent Anthony Enocita, Dive Associate, SCUBA Center. Assisting Dean Tito and Head of the SCUBA Center is Raymond Antonio Lim. <br /><br /> In his inspirational message, President Jalon expresses his consideration for Basilan as a second home and how he yearns to be back again. He is also optimistic about this partnership and urges the trainees to “make the most of it”, to seize this rare opportunity afforded to the participants by the AECID-funded MILAB Project. He urges participants to feel free to interact with the ZSCMST training team, and he reminds the former how he had freed them from their school obligation for the duration of this training in order to respond positively to his second home's needs to build competencies on diving and coastal resources assessment so that these local government units can be proactive in developing and implementing their coastal resources management (CRM) plan. He reminds everyone that we are still in a pandemic and the need to observe health protocols is ever urgent and compulsory as he believes health is a treasure that everyone should value all the time and that the Covid-19 virus is ever-present in our midst. <br /><br /> Prof Omatang delivers the first part of the training overview and how the ZSCMST team is happy to support this WBA initiative. Dean Tito delivers the second part of the training overview. He reminds participants that while the training team will have flexibility, there are also rules and standards to be observed. The training will be a combination of lectures and confined and open water practicum. The 7-day dive training will end with a CMAS assessment and certification, while the 3-day coastal resources assessment will end with practicum and data analysis. After the opening program, the participants proceeded to the pool area for the preliminary water skills assessment. Participants demonstrated to the training team their initial capacity to swim and float. <br /><br /> Ms Sheila Tan Acquiatan, MILAB Project Coordinator, orients the participants on house rules including the need to observe health protocols for the duration of the training program. The project booked a larger venue with a pool nearby, with several French doors which can be open from time to time to allow for fresh air to circulate. The project also distributed health kits consisting of face masks and alcohol. All the participants applied through the S-PaSS entry requirements to get into Zamboanga City and this training program, following these stated protocols, is also authorized by the Zamboanga City DRRMO. <br /><br />WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in the Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-14661585486678342852021-11-23T17:33:00.001-08:002021-11-26T01:23:16.122-08:00Introducing ZSCMST Training Team <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqsQQOY1JwKWn-WZmqxcwRs5MaXcnHxoMxBc8lQodja8XLJG2yMyl8hUGS7Wxa3ivH22zGdo2N5WOTsfYh5XPrFcBzyMizX47TSdum-tlo9gA3Jott5YsUr4-GTRPiosttxoOH5Fz1osKwntSDxnI3dLyAT1CnFSoe048-L2VGE5Wks02ZBzrqsyPM=s271" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqsQQOY1JwKWn-WZmqxcwRs5MaXcnHxoMxBc8lQodja8XLJG2yMyl8hUGS7Wxa3ivH22zGdo2N5WOTsfYh5XPrFcBzyMizX47TSdum-tlo9gA3Jott5YsUr4-GTRPiosttxoOH5Fz1osKwntSDxnI3dLyAT1CnFSoe048-L2VGE5Wks02ZBzrqsyPM=w313-h320" width="313" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Prof
Dr Oliver Tito<br />Dean of the College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences<br />Concurrent Vice President for Research, Innovation and Extension
Services</b><br />SCUBA Trainer <br />Team Leader</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicCjBmXxEPq9iRuKCdJe76RtRv2O7HSGs2EBsRCnFo6ECuLHoxGojfL3nJx5TtsjQYuDJk-KmwYkvdv46P_WV3AXMaIlsQv4MrkskGd9fFOulN3-kqVxNCSK2jOAj9ECJEZtgemqiqhGIyj2PJ2mb7a84O-iFAi_nrSYVIU4OVkdH34R139-lm2ByW=s270" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEicCjBmXxEPq9iRuKCdJe76RtRv2O7HSGs2EBsRCnFo6ECuLHoxGojfL3nJx5TtsjQYuDJk-KmwYkvdv46P_WV3AXMaIlsQv4MrkskGd9fFOulN3-kqVxNCSK2jOAj9ECJEZtgemqiqhGIyj2PJ2mb7a84O-iFAi_nrSYVIU4OVkdH34R139-lm2ByW=w316-h320" width="316" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Prof Raymond Antonio Lim<br />CMFS Faculty<br />Head of the SCUBA Center</b><br />Trainer, Corals and Reef Fishes<br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX0mugn-v6i24RA4dAHHknt5gQREjRebxaToBpOPvL4jbum5rvrgSiK2wbnkINWBvXleTuCmSUasILclkVcfwiyf0fcFYO2UTc2qPBeKSY-ZwblVCGBLzBqV0i-26_NfASthKKeiZSfnfR-vrjlJDZFWbzdgsXN1sLJljO-hUUDzEVXJBEnNYRS8r5=s272" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="272" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhX0mugn-v6i24RA4dAHHknt5gQREjRebxaToBpOPvL4jbum5rvrgSiK2wbnkINWBvXleTuCmSUasILclkVcfwiyf0fcFYO2UTc2qPBeKSY-ZwblVCGBLzBqV0i-26_NfASthKKeiZSfnfR-vrjlJDZFWbzdgsXN1sLJljO-hUUDzEVXJBEnNYRS8r5=w320-h312" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Prof Dr Servando Halili, Jr<br />CENS Faculty</b><br />Trainer, Socio-Economic Assessment</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUEPoZesy008kmvxGkMHJHcQxGto_l5GWQ7awUBSpRpYLMsF6xVolhMMhtrUMsGgaoOYM3TdelndndIzeXet-zgUTF_00sGc1uKP80vfCVFZX_RlNsTMH8YoEcsRPOp5gIFijBDVpYvywqFZDCAcDRwruZKBsXjFTIMHr0O0ZohzgvILJoRTE8g-8f=s204" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="204" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhUEPoZesy008kmvxGkMHJHcQxGto_l5GWQ7awUBSpRpYLMsF6xVolhMMhtrUMsGgaoOYM3TdelndndIzeXet-zgUTF_00sGc1uKP80vfCVFZX_RlNsTMH8YoEcsRPOp5gIFijBDVpYvywqFZDCAcDRwruZKBsXjFTIMHr0O0ZohzgvILJoRTE8g-8f=w320-h306" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Prof. Victoria Lim<br />Chairperson of the Chemistry Department</b><br />Trainer, Water Quality</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpH-u04ARciyjSjVsQekE8usJOHHukUw9knnBqXVwDmhjRppodNZFdAXfSJOJGOE4XLJ4DBiRUE_5uKlLAEC5cenYqOZ3l6ZnYOPxbfZfEMl7YEK0DTPSycLF-RYTLwT10xgCrky_T0malms2252RJHFZ0bdxQtt7Yfuuda_e0cuUX9VaG3C4dqtd0=s272" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="268" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpH-u04ARciyjSjVsQekE8usJOHHukUw9knnBqXVwDmhjRppodNZFdAXfSJOJGOE4XLJ4DBiRUE_5uKlLAEC5cenYqOZ3l6ZnYOPxbfZfEMl7YEK0DTPSycLF-RYTLwT10xgCrky_T0malms2252RJHFZ0bdxQtt7Yfuuda_e0cuUX9VaG3C4dqtd0" width="268" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Prof. Angelo Macario<br />Masters in Fisheries Management Program Adviser</b><br />Assistant Trainer, Socio-Economic Assessment</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVkaGCiq1pVI-Pmr_RB1KSIkkYwZ0YLtEoRB3M7W2dm5rw0s6I-9sVr1QpKl2O6U5aKWfKIVm15YP-vBtNP47yTcIdrsO-SCZ2iOGc92nYVHdxPY0hc3nLlXsU9TcY8BZSpHpQlZQug8jTsJHbfo9mkgRoa1AXwo3Pxew6qNN1LXaqq7wFlrYT61hC=s216" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="216" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVkaGCiq1pVI-Pmr_RB1KSIkkYwZ0YLtEoRB3M7W2dm5rw0s6I-9sVr1QpKl2O6U5aKWfKIVm15YP-vBtNP47yTcIdrsO-SCZ2iOGc92nYVHdxPY0hc3nLlXsU9TcY8BZSpHpQlZQug8jTsJHbfo9mkgRoa1AXwo3Pxew6qNN1LXaqq7wFlrYT61hC=w320-h301" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Prof. Annie Gonzales</b><br /><b>Marine Biology Program Adviser</b><br />Trainer, Seagrass </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyFXDLPfg1ixSwA7XelEON6wz7DLBIbRZiVTfoeOM18cwz77TNpVg7qTsIGaVYLi6Jg9xnOk1xMTBJW5i-XU8gm0fcYGJvii2IOPu9R1AXFJ-CWa4atPZuR8eLOERepWYa36Wu04TUsSsr3pEMUmvoDKAcU6Od0Bb027VZMUnXPDC8RQR8o3Ly3eul=s216" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="216" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyFXDLPfg1ixSwA7XelEON6wz7DLBIbRZiVTfoeOM18cwz77TNpVg7qTsIGaVYLi6Jg9xnOk1xMTBJW5i-XU8gm0fcYGJvii2IOPu9R1AXFJ-CWa4atPZuR8eLOERepWYa36Wu04TUsSsr3pEMUmvoDKAcU6Od0Bb027VZMUnXPDC8RQR8o3Ly3eul=w320-h293" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Prof. Kathleen Dalope<br />Fisheries Program Adviser</b><br />Assistant Trainer, Seagrass</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKxr4yS6YhtZANxNy3k630UUgNKiTmDBIl9sh-BzcKC3j9RvweSIoV9kVK-VZmKllhhmMm4CSEk7lCaqA7BuT2owPksNvht9BIekOgAdnKZWoZFmvUsbpBV8lsrpLW6cKTdTubFDGNhChfIWAQZ8iUE3B3sFi3ckD7tKLFg-C7Ib6yjbNoEDouEPvL=s282" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="269" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKxr4yS6YhtZANxNy3k630UUgNKiTmDBIl9sh-BzcKC3j9RvweSIoV9kVK-VZmKllhhmMm4CSEk7lCaqA7BuT2owPksNvht9BIekOgAdnKZWoZFmvUsbpBV8lsrpLW6cKTdTubFDGNhChfIWAQZ8iUE3B3sFi3ckD7tKLFg-C7Ib6yjbNoEDouEPvL" width="269" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Prof. Rolando Pelingon<br />Faculty, College of
Fisheries and Marine Sciences</b><br />SCUBA Trainer<br />Trainer, Planktons</p><p><br /></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoRrqNqnRzHgy0N4UfAZjvRNejF1YGirFB7nVtuuFbx1HyPMsebfisKrLAvDwimV_vhjP3KJJkiJT8SF6KnVixoJPrKSyetNE8DfLgdcQyokGQxCuSlnJIIUIKmamYykLtuf_fkHy40InSIPpgna2IKnKO-ubA8knaRmgm0beE64V-PfP054e-D2zQ=s205" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="205" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoRrqNqnRzHgy0N4UfAZjvRNejF1YGirFB7nVtuuFbx1HyPMsebfisKrLAvDwimV_vhjP3KJJkiJT8SF6KnVixoJPrKSyetNE8DfLgdcQyokGQxCuSlnJIIUIKmamYykLtuf_fkHy40InSIPpgna2IKnKO-ubA8knaRmgm0beE64V-PfP054e-D2zQ=w320-h293" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Espiridion Sales Jr<br />CFMS Staff</b><br />Trainer, Mangroves</p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWFfZHxTxnCxUTF_wru6Noz2nfd1FBS0f9cEWnCv12_U9fG-Wcl5cmThUfCOE0OgoFWhUSQV0Umilu2HpZjx1s2P7_yPz3FY-zdlC9ktLsz9kW8vYzZ3GAWG0ScSJeOMHjdw9UtkPlmLeGHab5wuoGkyqpg3eK_pG-qJ6Tvf-QLarzlQ4j0TV29Dbe=s213" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="213" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWFfZHxTxnCxUTF_wru6Noz2nfd1FBS0f9cEWnCv12_U9fG-Wcl5cmThUfCOE0OgoFWhUSQV0Umilu2HpZjx1s2P7_yPz3FY-zdlC9ktLsz9kW8vYzZ3GAWG0ScSJeOMHjdw9UtkPlmLeGHab5wuoGkyqpg3eK_pG-qJ6Tvf-QLarzlQ4j0TV29Dbe=w320-h297" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Juniboy Alberto<br />CFMS Faculty</b><br />Assistant Trainer, Mangroves</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPF_OyTuRUy8Iy1h79aqblZcMckj6e2NWyIvz7L9hwIuuy3m5hC6YRxshnDbFTz3qzBSMitIkvxjR10qQCsqrWXD9yFCsaS6EFUyztt3PBD0MoaLj16LIEpF1uF2g3c3NSaVFtye8k_N5CN7fy848t_4itEInZfQ7JNUChXcl7-ZPtIe9X87J8_zik=s283" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="273" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgPF_OyTuRUy8Iy1h79aqblZcMckj6e2NWyIvz7L9hwIuuy3m5hC6YRxshnDbFTz3qzBSMitIkvxjR10qQCsqrWXD9yFCsaS6EFUyztt3PBD0MoaLj16LIEpF1uF2g3c3NSaVFtye8k_N5CN7fy848t_4itEInZfQ7JNUChXcl7-ZPtIe9X87J8_zik" width="273" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Kent Anthony Enocita</b><br /><b>CFMS Faculty<br />Assistant Head, SCUBA Center</b><br />Assistant Trainer, Corals and Reef Fishes</p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-63412358224708004722021-11-18T01:10:00.004-08:002021-11-23T17:46:42.291-08:00WBA prepares for Dive and PCRA training with ZSCMST<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbVI3QziMyJMQvr-PByjvKEhKkeMaK8Ym-w0sysgGWZmqpPF89L68tl5X3JkB6qG_2Gh6hb7LdoSnOMbv-35OCwN8oL--Emx1ATXB3wJA1G7mOCuQdImaCFsM_PUNmh-hgJe1A8D7HA9_n6QqRrrViSpJFmjku2_fO-weaD4de-PEXi21S3MbZBysA=s864" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="864" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbVI3QziMyJMQvr-PByjvKEhKkeMaK8Ym-w0sysgGWZmqpPF89L68tl5X3JkB6qG_2Gh6hb7LdoSnOMbv-35OCwN8oL--Emx1ATXB3wJA1G7mOCuQdImaCFsM_PUNmh-hgJe1A8D7HA9_n6QqRrrViSpJFmjku2_fO-weaD4de-PEXi21S3MbZBysA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>Photo:
IAG, MILAB and ZSCMST officials posing for a group photo after a
meeting on their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the
Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) through capacity building and
technical assistance interventions. (L to R) ZSCMST Dive Center
Manager Prof Raymond Lim, IAG Director for Planning Sheila Algabre,
MILAB Project Coordinator Sheila Acquiatan, IAG Executive Director
Atty Benedicto Bacani, ZSCMST President Dr Jaime Jalon, ZSCMST Vice
President Dr Servando Halili Jr, MILAB Project Manager Noor Saada and
ZSCMST Dean of the College of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Dr Oliver
Tito. </i></span></p><br />Isabela City, Basilan (November 17, 2021) – The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) composed of the municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, and Sumisip, and supported by the Basilan Provincial Government, is scheduled to undertake a 7-day dive training and 3-day training on participatory coastal resources assessment (PCRA), from November 23 to December 3, 2021, in Zamboanga City. <br /><br />These two trainings will be delivered by a composite team of marine science experts from the Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST). This was made possible through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by ZSCMST and the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG). IAG is the managing contractor for the AECID-funded Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) that is capacitating and supporting the WBA.<br /><br />Atty Benedicto Bacani, Executive Director of IAG and the managing contractor of the AECID-funded MILAB Project, is happy to see this partnership slowly moving forward. IAG has built a reputation around local governance and alliance building, and with ZSCMST expertise in coastal resources management (CRM), he expects exponential benefits for the WBA. He is optimistic that the institutional commitment and resources of IAG and ZSCMST reflected in the memorandum of understanding will help WBA realize its vision of a peaceful and prosperous Western Basilan founded on good governance and a sustainable economy. <br /><br />MILAB manager Mr Noor Saada explains that diving is a foundational skill for participatory coastal resources assessment and PCRA is a preparatory mechanism to develop CRM plan required of every LGU in the country. He added that the 11-person ZSCMST team will be a composite of professors and professional divers and the two trainings will be a combination of lectures, confined water, and open water skills development, and fieldwork on socio-economic, mangroves, seagrass, coral and reef fishes, and water quality and plankton assessment drills. Participants will also undergo assessment and certification by CMAS Philippines as basic divers. The fieldwork is slated to be undertaken inside an ancestral domain area of Sama Bangingi' who have been preserving and promoting their area as an eco- and culture-based tourist spot. <br /><br /> WBA is the first inter-LGU cooperation in Basilan Province and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-89313666203508803892021-11-16T23:23:00.001-08:002021-11-16T23:23:24.644-08:00Basilan Gov Jim Hataman inspires WBA personnel to continue trekking the path of sustainable development<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxVtvlA4d4_p-HVNLTIG6lkvZ1thQ7e6XGqSmkK0D_d5Jpi16rEDCcUElTxWPb_Obrge6RE-PO_gnJiT6C12YrG6ioZYDG3jz7KGCEhtK5-4fyJg2ZMxu99_TtEo8Wg1LBX8wFOaj3wCsyNHopzQ7tCHx4gLu9zEjGW5DPOJFuCdrcIljJtTMDW_ZA=s1298" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1298" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxVtvlA4d4_p-HVNLTIG6lkvZ1thQ7e6XGqSmkK0D_d5Jpi16rEDCcUElTxWPb_Obrge6RE-PO_gnJiT6C12YrG6ioZYDG3jz7KGCEhtK5-4fyJg2ZMxu99_TtEo8Wg1LBX8wFOaj3wCsyNHopzQ7tCHx4gLu9zEjGW5DPOJFuCdrcIljJtTMDW_ZA=w400-h181" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Participants having a photo op with Basilan Gov Jim Hataman <br />on the sideline od the Day 2 workshop.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Isabela City, Basilan (November 17, 2021) - Basilan Provincial Governor Jim Hataman, a champion of alliance-building, visits the WBA workshop on Operations Manual today and inspires key personnel to continue trekking the path of sustainable, meaningful development. He reminds everyone that other forms of development are now possible in Basilan because of the security improvement. He reckons that the security improvement was possible because of the ownership and participation of all to make Basilan peaceful. </p><p>He also explains why good governance and cultural reforms are integral to each other. He observes that unproductive age-old practices continue to define daily lives and how this should be changed in order to make life meaningful. For Basilan, the connection between people and the land should be symbiotic, i.e. land is what can improve people's lives, but as people's lives improved, the land should be nurtured not destroyed.</p><p>Behind this improved security background, other forms of development are now possible including this alliance building and efforts towards sustainable livelihood.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-26809313588906972922021-11-16T20:01:00.006-08:002021-11-16T20:05:08.000-08:00WBA enhances its draft Operations Manual<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT3ig5WkxqRQgt9H_rT3aZMGFABtBTZKn2na7O9Mw2IC6Tyim2p93GlLFNH3LdOeH0c2S9gY84wscqnVZI5Ddhg8lwfJIMzq4VeVsNvnqZ6zxsZ4S8-dfLwHwx4Xa6UC5LLTZTvrfm2YRixeCSXxi19YnxVwgVuAxk7A9-1mcHGh9FMdeUuSWpo3AZ=s960" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="960" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT3ig5WkxqRQgt9H_rT3aZMGFABtBTZKn2na7O9Mw2IC6Tyim2p93GlLFNH3LdOeH0c2S9gY84wscqnVZI5Ddhg8lwfJIMzq4VeVsNvnqZ6zxsZ4S8-dfLwHwx4Xa6UC5LLTZTvrfm2YRixeCSXxi19YnxVwgVuAxk7A9-1mcHGh9FMdeUuSWpo3AZ=w400-h185" width="400" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">'Recall Circle' on day 2 of the workshop with participants recalling and</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> sharing what each of them remembers from yesterday's session.</div><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Isabela City, Basilan (November 16, 2021<span style="text-align: left;">) – Local planning, agriculture, and finance
personnel from the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) convenes today for
a week-long workshop to enhance their draft operations manual. The
workshop will run for up to Friday, November 19, at the Kasinnahan
Hotel and Resort, this city.</span></p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">In his opening statement,
Mr. Zia Ulhaq Basa, the WBA Alliance Management Office (AMO) manager
welcomes the participants to this activity and hopes that they will
exert their best efforts to share their ideas and experiences in
enhancing the first draft which they started developing in May 2021.</p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Mayor Hanie A Bud of
Maluso, the interim chair of the WBA, claims that this alliance is
arguably the most functional in the BARMM region. He reminds everyone
that the current coastal resources management (CRM) is just one of
the many development focuses of the alliance. He enlightens the
participants about the other development focus, such as good
governance, peace and security, critical social services, and eco- and
culture-based tourism.</p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The training team comes
from the Ateneo Center for Leadership and Governance (ACLG) of the
Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) and composed of team leader May
Bulanon, lead trainer Ari Ismael and documenter-writer Cha Ibanez.
Aside from facilitating this week's workshop, the training team will
also come up with version 2 of the operations manual, incorporating
salient points of the WBA Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), critical
ingredients in the alliance-building manual, organizational
development theory, and from the unique Basilan context.</p><p align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The ACLG team engages the
participants through a generative lecture-workshop methodology. Each
session starts with a short overview of critical ingredients in
the alliance-building manual. Small group workshop follows building
on the participants' experiences and aspirations. Thereafter, every
group presents their output and listens to comments from other
groups, and is given another round to refine their output.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">Western Basilan Alliance is the first
inter-LGU cooperation in the province and is being capacitated by the
Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the
Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the
provincial and selected municipal governments.</p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-91976184883197412472021-11-15T23:20:00.000-08:002021-11-16T23:23:46.013-08:00Project Updating <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIjFWZPmOmtqZKOkvjmRelIKeMg-pMmblC-bLnNTHvktW3tgdOtw46B5xKo4FzJ1QurjDHb9NeRG_sZqFjUDKWkAL3qszFg4c4y1c_QxvRy53UJOhtKhnrc3l9YaRecA_FY8eSukLsagUR6nBDrqKkZ2Kcv3vEe92HSaSOX2z2Dlruf2sSOj9By4WX=s1164" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1164" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIjFWZPmOmtqZKOkvjmRelIKeMg-pMmblC-bLnNTHvktW3tgdOtw46B5xKo4FzJ1QurjDHb9NeRG_sZqFjUDKWkAL3qszFg4c4y1c_QxvRy53UJOhtKhnrc3l9YaRecA_FY8eSukLsagUR6nBDrqKkZ2Kcv3vEe92HSaSOX2z2Dlruf2sSOj9By4WX=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L to R - WBA AMO manager Zia Ulhaq Basa, WBA SC interim chair Mayor Hans Bud of Maluso,<br />WBA TWG lead facilitator Jan Zanoria and MILAB Project manager Noor Saada.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Isabela City, Basilan (November 16, 20221) - WBA Steering Committee interim chair and Maluso mayor Hans A Bud met with TWG lead facilitator January Yap Zanoria, AMO manager Zia Ulhaq M Basa, and MILAB project manager Noor Saada, for project updating on the sideline of the 5-day workshop on the WBA operations manual, November 15 to 19, 2021. The latter three personalities discussed with Mayor Bud updates on the project prototypes, preparations for the dive and PCRA training, and initial project ideas for the CRM blueprint.</div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-87424988786101382162021-10-15T21:41:00.003-07:002021-10-15T21:45:24.762-07:00Steering Committee approves project prototypes<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMd41S3mvNjYWHSTyKuQ_OlC2iOYzOCa3S_hYBytFuSNhJG-Bhe0oZYRsV_pQIdKdUbAnzxIemvZ6dJqYXT39HNiV_iKRvW4h3ZaZDmITwPX0V4Rn1bgMFazjolYIv_gL5yT9Sdn9XWuOeuuk40uUQ6jeAtgUsWbpi7Kx-cNVKmrIIL7ZuTVTrji3K=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMd41S3mvNjYWHSTyKuQ_OlC2iOYzOCa3S_hYBytFuSNhJG-Bhe0oZYRsV_pQIdKdUbAnzxIemvZ6dJqYXT39HNiV_iKRvW4h3ZaZDmITwPX0V4Rn1bgMFazjolYIv_gL5yT9Sdn9XWuOeuuk40uUQ6jeAtgUsWbpi7Kx-cNVKmrIIL7ZuTVTrji3K=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></div><br />Isabela City, Basilan (October 1, 2021) – Steering Committee (SC) members met today for its 3rd quarterly (regular) meeting to discuss and approve project proposals. Present were mayors Hanie Bud and Nerwelyn Mansul. Governor Jim Hataman and Mayor Nursiya Ismael were represented by Provincial Administrator Manny Muarip and former councilor Ustadz Patta Lazaro. Also present were Ms January Zanoria, Lead Facilitator for the Technical Working Group (TWG); Mr Zia Ulhaq Basa, Manager of the Alliance Office, and Mr Noor Saada, Manager of the MILAB Project.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prior to this quarterly meeting, the TWG prepared these proposals building on the Value Chain Analysis (VCA). A series of online conversation was undertaken to discuss and refine the proposals. Given the scarcity of available data and in order to test the viability of the concept, it was agreed to iterate the proposal and to begin with prototypes. Prototyping serves to provide specifications for a real, working model rather than a theoretical one. Prototyping was adopted because of its familiarity with local chief executives under their current bridging leadership journey on local health development. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The following prototypes were approved by the SC:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ul><li>Prototype 1: Fresh and dried seafood marketing project to be led by Hadji Muhtamad and Maluso LGUs. Towards this end, MILAP Project will engage a marketing consultant to facilitate liaising with prospective bulk buyers in Zamboanga City.<br /><br /></li><li>Prototype 2: Nito weaving project to be led by Lantawan LGU. This weaving project can expand to include nipa and pandan. MILAB will source a nito trainer for product enhancement. The marketing consultant for prototype 1 will incorporate exploring the bulk market for nito products in Zamboanga City.<br /><br /></li><li>Prototype 3: Cassava contract growing to be led by Sumisip LGU. An invitation letter will be sent to a prospective corporate partner inviting a team for proper orientation and initial area assessment.<br /><br /></li><li>Prototype 4: Community-level cassava processing to be led by Lantawan LGU. An invitation letter will be sent to an institutional partner for initial visit and orientation.</li></ul><div>The SC has also approved the suggested components and process for the development of a provincial CRM "blueprint". This blueprint has been requested by the Provincial Government to signal its emerging and expanding focus on coastal resources management, particularly in the area of sustainable livelihood and conservation. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-72142744567659765532021-04-06T01:17:00.003-07:002021-11-23T17:47:43.889-08:00Gov Jim Hataman inspires WBA workshop participants<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXBXdlg2ZVNzSJAjr_zbksBX9Z37nDQ_fDLwJemzE_9TJ7SsAGTPMU-gS-T-je3lK_pWtIzMXSuLUCtxbl3bvpMkYa2THviaWafNcK9attVn4pz8b78mGDQZUGutMQua915wdD8o-6HI/s2048/170191971_490175618785782_3595313286490774647_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXBXdlg2ZVNzSJAjr_zbksBX9Z37nDQ_fDLwJemzE_9TJ7SsAGTPMU-gS-T-je3lK_pWtIzMXSuLUCtxbl3bvpMkYa2THviaWafNcK9attVn4pz8b78mGDQZUGutMQua915wdD8o-6HI/w400-h225/170191971_490175618785782_3595313286490774647_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">(In photo) Basilan Gov Jim Hataman inspiring participants to the WBA Operations Manual Workshop. (Photo credit: Zhor Barry Hasim/Provl Government)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Isabela City, Basilan (April 6, 2021) – Participants from Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso and Sumisip, all member-LGUs of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) and partner agencies, such as the provincial offices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) and the Basilan Provincial Government convene today for a week-long workshop on operations manual. The development of the operations manual is a ke provision in the WBA's Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). <br /><br />Governor Jim Hataman in his inspirational message walks through the participants about ongoing challenges, current gains and forward ideas on peace and security, cocolisap devastation, local rubber industry, local fishery sector and food security. He points to the need for research-driven policies and programs, such as attracting capital investment, enhancing economic productivity, “branding” challenge in marketing Basilan and its products, and addressing loose firearms through a cultural and not just legal lens. <br /><br />He recalls the motivation behind the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) and hopes local governments would level up in the ideation of development. He trusts that local leaders and personnel would eventually be sophisticated in empowering themselves in terms of functionalities of services and long-term effects of program delivery and, not just simply be contented with documentary compliance and immediate concerns. <br /><br />Finally, he emphasizes the value of working together as a foundation of development. He feels the WBA provides practical experience for member LGUs and personnel in addressing shared concerns and addressing them collaboratively. He is equally optimistic that the current initiatives will concretize and yield gains for the people in the long term. <br /><br />Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-61499519682750102352021-01-28T22:36:00.024-08:002021-04-06T23:50:23.602-07:00Western Basilan Alliance Pivots To New Opportunities<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMrgMJQJPwTIvi9Hq9qUVS7Y66p-scDSpdS5jgSW7ga92jtW_vjBUSSvSFJd9CdEtZeccl_Q620VaZ6JJ8G-LhJK3YHs9W4T7fCThnLXhyphenhyphen4T1HEQG0sGYXwITVyPnKvvBVGh9ueKxM2A/s2048/DSC_3853a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="2048" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMrgMJQJPwTIvi9Hq9qUVS7Y66p-scDSpdS5jgSW7ga92jtW_vjBUSSvSFJd9CdEtZeccl_Q620VaZ6JJ8G-LhJK3YHs9W4T7fCThnLXhyphenhyphen4T1HEQG0sGYXwITVyPnKvvBVGh9ueKxM2A/w400-h283/DSC_3853a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(L to R) MILG OIC Prov'l Dir Ra-Diya Akmad, MAFAR Prov'l Dir Hannie Junuban, IAG Exec Dir Atty Benedicto Bacani, Basilan Gov Jim Hataman, Maluso mayor Hanie Bud, Lantawan Mayor Nursiya Ismael, Hadji Muhtamad Mayor Nerwelyn Mansul and Sumisip administrator Nusra Hataman (representing Mayor Jul-Adnan Hataman) sign the MoA today, January 29, 2021, at the Provincial Capitol, Isabela City, Basilan, to formalize the establishment of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA).</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Isabela City, Basilan (January 29, 2021) - The municipalities of Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso and Sumisip in this province enters into a memorandum of agreement (moA) to formally establish the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). Representing the municipalities are their respective mayors - Nerwelyn Mansul (Hadji Muhtamad), Nursiya Ismael (Lantawan), Hanie Bud (Maluso) and Jul-Adnan Hataman (Sumisip). Witnessing this momentous occasion is no less than the alliance champion Basilan governor Hadjiman "Jim" Hataman-Salliman and the provincial directors of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Hannie Junuban and Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) Ra-Diya Akmad. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the MOA signed, the alliance can now explore how to harness and protect the myriad of ecosystems straddling the four municipalities. To manage these resources, WBA will leverage primarily on the ridge-to-river-to-reef or 3Rs approach, addressing at the same time key concerns like poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, prosperity, peace, and justice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The MOA highlights the alliance’s vision for peace and prosperity, establishing WBA as a platform for consultation and development founded on good governance and a sustainable economy. The Local Government Code of 1991 states that local government units, through appropriate ordinances, may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Governor Hataman urged the mayors to move forward and use the alliance to help develop Basilan. “The important thing now is sustainability, giving substance [to WBA], and empowering the people economically, politically, culturally and socially,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Carlos Cavanillas, General-Coordinator of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) in the Philippines, hailed the institutionalization of WBA, noting that the “success of alliance-building requires a deep change of culture of the traditional way of government.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This kind of effort requires virtues. Patience to understand and to accept that your efforts need some time to materialize; seriousness to accomplish the commitment; ability to work and decide as a team; and humility to recognize that you are not the only one who is always right. We must understand though that this kind of initiative should be developed within the appropriate climate of peace and safety,” he added.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) through the Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) project supported by AECID implemented capacity-building activities two years prior in preparation for the institutionalization of WBA as a model for participatory development and good governance. Knowledge and skills gained during this period pertain to critical ingredients in building and sustaining interlocal cooperation and the necessary legal, financial, and institutional requirements for operationalizing the alliance.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-5316275742560877302020-11-10T16:44:00.030-08:002020-11-11T18:04:27.323-08:00Maluso LGU and partners launch 'RadyoEdukasyon' today<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fceb1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/125068224_10157318046271010_1636772713206797457_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=2&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_eui2=AeGIB2sIgw4kH04yWZXq5XB1zJ2fCG5Zo23MnZ8IblmjbUOzg-BLFM555AW4sosMilg&_nc_ohc=mZFR7bUkE98AX-ra77I&_nc_ht=scontent.fceb1-1.fna&oh=46f9caf870a261dfb992393336309a7d&oe=5FCFA555" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="800" height="306" src="https://scontent.fceb1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/125068224_10157318046271010_1636772713206797457_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=2&_nc_sid=8bfeb9&_nc_eui2=AeGIB2sIgw4kH04yWZXq5XB1zJ2fCG5Zo23MnZ8IblmjbUOzg-BLFM555AW4sosMilg&_nc_ohc=mZFR7bUkE98AX-ra77I&_nc_ht=scontent.fceb1-1.fna&oh=46f9caf870a261dfb992393336309a7d&oe=5FCFA555" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i>IN PHOTO: Maluso LGU and DepEd
launches 'RadyoEdukasyon' today <br />over WBA 991.FM radio station. Leading the
launch are (L-R) schools division superintendent <br />Dr Tim
Undain-Sanchez, mayor Hanie Bud, assistant schools division
superintendent Nuriya K. Jamaldin and Maluso vice mayor Al-Mashour
Yasin (Photo credit – Hans Bud/FB)</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />Maluso, Basilan (November 11, 2020) – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Maluso, through the Expanded Local School Board, together with Basilan Schools Division of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) and WBA 99.1FM Radio Station launches today 'RadyoEdukasyon' an innovative approach to blended learning in the 'new normal'. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In his opening statement, Maluso mayor Hanie Bud informs everyone present that 'RadyoEdukasyon' was developed base on the urgent need to support learners on schooling in the new normal. He relays to the audience that this is all about self-reliance and tapping into local resources - the expanded local school board has been activated, the local radio station is ready to provide airtime, school heads and teachers are eager to go on air to follow through learners' performance especially in the remote areas, and the local DepEd leadership is also supportive and up to the task. He said, these local resources are more than enough to jumpstart this innovation today. He welcomes old and new partners who would like to join and help improve this innovative approach to schooling in the new normal. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This 'RadyoEdukasyon' initiative will level up teachers' competence in reaching out and follow through on student learning in this new normal, this is a challenge we will accept and we will make sure teachers who are tapped as anchors and subject specialists for this program will exert their best effort for this radio-based instruction. We will strive to to make it fun, exciting and engaging for learners as well as medium to improve teacher's self confidence and communication skills outside of the traditional classroom setting”, explains superintedent Dr Tim Undain-Sanchez. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maluso vice mayor Al-Mashour Yasin expresses his optimism over the local school board's decision in developing this 'RadyoEdukasyon', and gratitude to the Maluso teachers for taking on this challenge as this will certainly help ease the challenge of module learning for learners and parents. He thanks everyone for coming together as a team and like the challenge of the pandemic to go through this challenge as one team Maluso. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Initial broadcast time will include Elementary Science (9.00 to 10.00AM, Tuesday), Elementary English (9.00 to 10.00AM, Wednesday), Elementary Filipino (2.00 to 3.00PM, Monday), Elementary Math (2.00 to 3.00PM, Wednesday) and High School (2.00 to 3.00PM, Thursday). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under the leadership of mayor Hanie Bud and vice mayor Al Yasin, they enrolled the expansion of the local school board of Maluso with the Synergeia Foundation, and benefitted from its capacity-building program including online planning and sharing of initiatives under the new normal. It was in this session that the 'RadyoEdukasyon' initiative came to mind. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">'RadyoEdukasyon' will be hosted by WBA 99.1FM radio station. This radio station is the first pilot project of the Western Basilan Alliance, the first interlocal cooperation in the province, constructed through the “Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan” (MILAB) Phase 1 Project and was turned over by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) to the WBA on October 14, 2019. The Local Government of Maluso is managing the radio station in behalf of the alliance.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-61879148047238760672020-11-04T23:55:00.008-08:002020-11-04T23:58:27.432-08:00WBA completes VCA training today<div style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent.fceb1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/123598307_4159609480720719_4286126904406503960_n.png?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_eui2=AeENBQyw37ad_x9Q5eMdXxnZpzaCmpIxN2enNoKakjE3ZymRPvDllSMLhEfezAl08k8&_nc_ohc=nSxmyPPcxwYAX_Fp1Je&_nc_ht=scontent.fceb1-1.fna&oh=a6994c30d7ee456e2d06f3443535b1c7&oe=5FC881CD" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://scontent.fceb1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/123598307_4159609480720719_4286126904406503960_n.png?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_eui2=AeENBQyw37ad_x9Q5eMdXxnZpzaCmpIxN2enNoKakjE3ZymRPvDllSMLhEfezAl08k8&_nc_ohc=nSxmyPPcxwYAX_Fp1Je&_nc_ht=scontent.fceb1-1.fna&oh=a6994c30d7ee456e2d06f3443535b1c7&oe=5FC881CD" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A screenshot of the online validation today using Zoom application.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Zamboanga City (November 5, 2020) – The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) completes today it 3-part training program on value chain analysis (VCA) online via Zoom application. The online introductory session was done in August 26, 2020. The on-site group workshop and online coaching stretched from August 27 up to the September 2020. Today's session is the culmination activity. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Present for today's validation sessions are provincial and municipal administrators, planning and agriculture personnel. Also present in today's sessions are the provincial administrator Manny Muarip and mayor Nursiya Ismael of Lantawan, mayor Nerwelyn Mansul of Hadji Muhtamad, mayor Hans Bud of Maluso; while Sumisip mayor Jul-Adnan Hataman is ably-represented by his municipal administrator Nusra Hataman. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">MILAB Phase 2 project manager Noor Saada explains that VCA is a skill set expected to be part of the competence of the technical working group of the WBA. Content expert and training facilitator Karen Oloroso-Miels added that VCA tool is used to analyze a community's primary and support activities that add value to their products and then analyze these activities to reduce costs or increase differentiation. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Participants from the provincial office presented their VCA on rubber, a key product coming out of the province. With falling global price and stiff competition, they see the need for continuing improvement in planting, harvesting and packing practices. They observed that over time, the hand-me-down informal way of learning the craft had diluted science- and technology-based practices. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lantawan planning coordinator Hadji Roben Mustapha and agriculturist Dr Julita Larracochea presented their VCA with focus on nito weaving that has already started around Barangay Lower Banas. Sumisip personnel Sarha Ambil and agriculturist Indisiyan Mustapha presented VCA on cassava, one of the island's staple food and an indigenous source of carbohydrates for the local population. Right now, Ms Ambil added, local trading and consumption center around grated and steamed cassava.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maluso agriculturist Emma Dagatan presented their VCA on dried fish, a product that has made the town famous for. Fresh and dried fishes are primary products in high demand from the town and marketed within and outside Basilan province, and as far as Cebu and Davao. Maluso sells about 600 tonnes per quarter of these fresh and dried products. They are in need of market expansion, and improvement in sanitary drying (especially during rainy season) and packaging. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hadji Muhtamad planning coordinator Densaudi Kong and municipal administrator Nursaida Mohammad presented their VCA on curacha, a crab species abundant in this insular municipality geographically sandwiched between mainland Basilan and Zamboanga Peninsula. They presented a sustainable way of farming and conserving this resource centered around marine protected areas they are envisioning to undertake in the near future. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After today's presentation, these value chain analyses will be converted into proposal concepts to be forwarded to concerned government agencies for possible funding and technical support, and project partnership. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-5222457947146818012020-11-03T21:27:00.016-08:002020-11-15T23:51:29.651-08:00WBA begins Training on Institutional Requirements for Alliance Building<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUxk80nDVwhakEnif7FmID-5__cn1iCXk6q3ofHSpBAwV9VRSNR-njZITMUGMgOeOhTAE-Qo3Bt-Oo0w1tB8MpgIT4FFhn1OdGOJazvnvkQAS-59KUZESlTPDQBARqHqcqIU41fjToBM/s584/institutional.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="584" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZUxk80nDVwhakEnif7FmID-5__cn1iCXk6q3ofHSpBAwV9VRSNR-njZITMUGMgOeOhTAE-Qo3Bt-Oo0w1tB8MpgIT4FFhn1OdGOJazvnvkQAS-59KUZESlTPDQBARqHqcqIU41fjToBM/w400-h225/institutional.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">A screenshot of the Introductory Session on </span><br style="text-align: start;" /><span style="text-align: start;">the Training on Institutional Requirements for Alliance Building <br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Zamboanga City (November 4, 2020) – Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) begins today, via online Zoom application, its training on institutional requirements for alliance building. Participants from the provincial and municipal governments include Sangguniang Panlalawigan, administrative, planning and agriculture personnel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">MILAB 2 Project manager Noor Saada explains that today's training brings together the capacitation on three pillars of alliance building (hyperlink - legal training commenced on October 21 and financial training on October 28). These pillars were developed into a 3-part training program to conform with the limitations posed by the on-going pandemic and by the demands of the 'new normal'. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Content expert and training facilitator Kareen Oloroso-Miels starts her introductory session with three (3) major phases of alliance building and together with the participants assess where the WBA is currently situated. There are a dozen key institutional ingredients that Ms Oloroso-Miels articulated to the participants. This includes conceptualizing (availability of champions, having common base and purpose) and studying models which a group from the WBA was able to undertake under MILAB Phase 1 in a visit to Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC) and Central Negros Council for Coastal Resources Development (CENECCORD). Also explained are the 'how' of alliance forming, assessment, strategic planning, resource generation and mobilization, pilot-testing, systematization, scaling, mainstreaming and evolution.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">MILAB project coordinator Sheila Marie Acquiatan insures that standardized learning materials are made available and downloadable so that participants can learn and review on their own pace, and ready for their online assessment using Google Forms for comprehension and as a guide to differentiated coaching based on the participants' comprehension. Schedules for team planning and online coaching are also put up.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the Ms Miels' coaching session, every LGU group is expected to submit their proposed work plan as to how they can build and comply with the institutional requirements, which will be followed through by the WBA office and the MILAB team.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-10011719146822319872020-11-03T08:00:00.008-08:002020-11-04T23:43:16.365-08:00WBA Radio inks partnership with women's organization Noorus-Salam<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMbA4EESpWFl_tIBXFrvW5HBJG_tT2aNsXbz7jki-LREqxdgDiNEhnixyluuAZXVD9tieNvmMgbX6xeYx8I8tX9_ZaQ331HNxEVqsEy0nthpinl8v83GCyrjKEVmtkhsOK6beKHPo4rM/s596/1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="596" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMbA4EESpWFl_tIBXFrvW5HBJG_tT2aNsXbz7jki-LREqxdgDiNEhnixyluuAZXVD9tieNvmMgbX6xeYx8I8tX9_ZaQ331HNxEVqsEy0nthpinl8v83GCyrjKEVmtkhsOK6beKHPo4rM/w400-h248/1.jpg" title="WBA radio station manager Zia ulhaq Basa and Noorus-Salam provincial coordinator Sarha Ahmad signs partnership agreement. Present as a witness is Maluso administrator Rahman Sabito (representing Mayor Hans Bud)." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WBA radio station manager Zia ulhaq Basa and Noorus-Salam provincial coordinator Sarha Ahmad signs partnership agreement. Present as a witness is Maluso administrator Rahman Sabito (representing Mayor Hans Bud).</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Maluso, Basilan (November 4, 2020) – The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) radio station 99.1 FM inks a partnership today with women's organization Noorus-Salam (NS). Present in the simple signing ceremony today at the radio station are NS Provincial Coordinator Sarha I. Ahmad, Maluso coordinator Ustadja Mariam S. Abdulla, members Melda Abdulla and Nasra Ahmad. The radio station is represented by its manager Zia Ulhaq Basa and deejay Morada Albani. Witnessing the signing is Maluso municipal administrator Rahman B. Sabito. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Organized sometime in 2009, Noorus-Salam (Arabic for “Light of Peace”) is a national network of Muslim religious women scholars and civil society leaders, as an outgrowth of the PCID's "Empowering the Muslim Women and Aleemat Project"[<a href="https://www.blogger.com/#sdfootnote1sym">1</a>]. In October 2018, Noorus-Salam issued a statement in support for the prevention of violent extremism (PVE) that had plague a number of Moro communities in the southern Philippines. It said, the way forward involves continuing support and engagement, active advocacy, creating awareness among vulnerable individuals, community vigilantce; conducting seminars, symposiums, FGDs, inter-faith forums and lectures on PVE; integrating PVE activities in local government plans and programs; integration of PVE and peace education in Madrasah and classroom setting; creative use social media and radio broadcast; provision of livelihood programs; and engaging local leaders and curving opportunities and space to highlight women's participation and creativity. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to Provincial Coordinator Sarha I. Ahmad, their Noorus-Salam organization is about empowerment of Muslim women in the Philippines. Base on this partenrship, WBA radio station will allocate a weekly program for the organization, during which NS will disseminate information and discuss current events and issues relevant to Muslim women and girls. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Station manager Zia Ulhaq Basa said, the WBA radio is happy to provide platform for women to express and discuss their issues and concerns as well undertake radio-based education, advocacy and information dissemination to engage and empower women to better themselves and be positive influence at home, work, community or wherever they are involved. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Maluso mayor Hans Bud, ably represented by municipal administrator Rahman B. Sabito, expresses his optimism about this partnership believing in the power of media to influence positive change in the community and recognizes the value of women and women participation in community building especially in the Western Basilan alliance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The radio station is the first pilot project of the WBA. It was constructed through the “Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan” (MILAB) Phase 1 Project and was turned over by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) to the WBA on October 14, 2019. The Local Government of Maluso is managing the radio station in behalf of the alliance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded “Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan “ (MILAB) 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>____________<br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/#sdfootnote1anc">1</a> Rasul, Amina. (2011). “A Rock and a Hard Place: Muslim Women and Conflict in Mindanao “, Global Asia, Volume 6, Number 3 - <a href="https://www.globalasia.org/v6no3/cover/a-rock-and-a-hard-place-muslim-women-and-conflict-in-mindanao_amina-rasul">https://www.globalasia.org/v6no3/cover/a-rock-and-a-hard-place-muslim-women-and-conflict-in-mindanao_amina-rasul</a><div id="sdfootnote1">
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-89345297645420847972020-10-27T22:11:00.012-07:002020-11-15T23:52:49.626-08:00WBA Commences Training on Financial Requirements for Alliance Building<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7444GSKGrHb5qLErPpXkt6Jaz4GaHIx0NPhzju9KnyiqexJaUmg7U1mfRc5NS1lt0glEsqDg-HxXjC4chzn967VHj7zY1H3-_MRZCCmJaVaVRlwRGXCbqoloR4FDFf9rZ_sVbJpYft8/s624/financial.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="624" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7444GSKGrHb5qLErPpXkt6Jaz4GaHIx0NPhzju9KnyiqexJaUmg7U1mfRc5NS1lt0glEsqDg-HxXjC4chzn967VHj7zY1H3-_MRZCCmJaVaVRlwRGXCbqoloR4FDFf9rZ_sVbJpYft8/w400-h225/financial.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">A screenshot of the Introductory Session on </span><br style="text-align: start;" /><span style="text-align: start;">the Training on Financial Requirements for Alliance Building. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Zamboanga City (October 28, 2020) – Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) commences this morning its training on financial requirements for alliance building via online Zoom application. Participants from the provincial and municipal governments include administrative, planning, agriculture, accounting, budget and treasurer personnel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">MILAB 2 Project manager Noor Saada said, this morning session is part of capacitation for personnel of member-LGUs and the first of a 3-part training program that includes on-site group planning, online coaching and output validation. This morning's introductory session aims to level off understanding among personnel of WBA member-LGUs as to what constitute critical financial ingredients in building and sustaining interlocal alliances. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Content expert and training facilitator Kareen Oloroso-Miels starts her presentation with three (3) major phases of alliance building and explained the different finanical ingredients, from sharing resources to consensus on nature of resource contribution and to the whole fund management system (collection, sharing arrangement, generation of other resources; accounting, budgeting, disbursement and auditing procedures). </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Standardized learning materials are made available and downloadable so that participants can learn and review on their own pace. There is an online assessment using Google Forms insuring participants' comprehension about the subject matter is monitored and serves as a guide to differentiated coaching based on the participants' comprehension. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">MILAB project coordinator Sheila Marie Acquiatan added that they will put schedules for team planning and online coaching and at the end of the coaching session, every LGU group is expected to submit their proposed work plan as to how they can build and comply with the financial requirements at their respective level. From this initial coaching and submission of workplan, there is follow through on their proposed activities with close supervision from the WBA office and MILAB project team for the succeeding month. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the Basilan provincial government and selected municipal governments. </div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-25852042276698460602020-10-21T00:53:00.000-07:002020-11-16T00:04:17.361-08:00WBA starts Training on Legal Requirements for Alliance Building<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3mPnDw8Po1FpS4Bnda8YEdgsz9BY6SPgR7N6AZCHAIVjPWlSL0pLLFw0Fz-NDqxcBxbcwmVJkoeKIX7s3COrC3WS1EdfwhZSqBDBJpHsGdjMR7tOioYh4qiqbhL2Z5tQzRtMun3Qrt0/s1058/Coaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1058" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3mPnDw8Po1FpS4Bnda8YEdgsz9BY6SPgR7N6AZCHAIVjPWlSL0pLLFw0Fz-NDqxcBxbcwmVJkoeKIX7s3COrC3WS1EdfwhZSqBDBJpHsGdjMR7tOioYh4qiqbhL2Z5tQzRtMun3Qrt0/w400-h300/Coaching.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Online coaching session with provincial and municipal groups<br />facilitated by the consultant. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;">Zamboanga City (October 21, 2020) – Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) starts today its training on legal requirements for alliance building as part of capacitation for personnel of member-LGUs. Participants from the provincial and municipal governments include Sangguniang Panlalawigan, administrative, planning and agriculture personnel.</div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;">In his opening statement, MILAB 2 Project manager Noor Saada explains to the participants that this morning's online session is the first in a 3-part training program that includes on-site group planning, online coaching and output validation. This training program aims to level off understanding among personnel of WBA member-LGUs as to what constitute critical legal ingredients in building and sustaining interlocal alliances or cooperation like the WBA. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In her introductory session, content expert and training facilitator Kareen Oloroso-Miels explains the three (3) major phases of alliance building and together with the participants asssess where the WBA currently stands. Together, they went through these critical legal ingredients starting with adoption of a binding agreement to concurrence and mandatory review by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of member-LGUs, from adoption of joint resolutions by the alliance to ratification by SBs of alliance agreements, harmonization of local policies by member-LGUs to creating legal mechanisms. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">MILAB project team facilitates the availability of learning materials online so that participants can learn and review on their own pace. There is an online assessment using Google Forms for individual participants to insure there is comprehension about the subject matter and also a guide to tailor coaching based on the comprehension level of the participants in a given group. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After this introductory session, Ms Oloroso-Miels put out schedules for team planning and online coaching. At the end of this on-site team planning, every LGU group is expected to submit their proposed work plan as to how they can comply with the legal requirements at their respective level. From this initial coaching and submission of workplan, there is follow through on their proposed activities with close supervision from the WBA office, headed by Zia Ulhaq Basa, and MILAB project team for the succeeding month. The idea is as they level up to the training expectations, they are also contributing to the building and sustaining of their alliance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Given the nature of this blended learning and attuned to the 'new normal', Ms Sheila Marie Acquiatan, project coordinator, leads in organizing the administrative functions, from contacting the participants via phone and social media, setting up the Zoom meeting, follow through on attendance, schedules and outputs. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the Spanish aid agency AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-75411762484931851332020-08-25T21:18:00.001-07:002020-11-04T21:07:46.475-08:00WBA starts online workshop on value chain today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hgNou9FegSooltNcbcwnLsGXoaySf0wzgjkHEsjIsd51O5-0mWS-F1r4srXqNUOBPbrZQmI-llrIM7SRq9-Q_sZ_BdcsZ8Y8FYLHfIfKX3JwoYvsC21nXib7MsV5Afb1SFj-_6AQQOQ/s960/Copy+of+Webinar+on+Value+Chain+Analysis+%2528VCA%2529+August+24%252C+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3hgNou9FegSooltNcbcwnLsGXoaySf0wzgjkHEsjIsd51O5-0mWS-F1r4srXqNUOBPbrZQmI-llrIM7SRq9-Q_sZ_BdcsZ8Y8FYLHfIfKX3JwoYvsC21nXib7MsV5Afb1SFj-_6AQQOQ/w512-h288/Copy+of+Webinar+on+Value+Chain+Analysis+%2528VCA%2529+August+24%252C+2020.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Zamboanga City (August 26, 2020) - The Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) in partnership with AECID-funded and IAG-implemented Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) Phase 2 Project holds an online workshop today on Value Chain Analysis (VCA).<br /><br />Noor Saada, MILAB Project manager explains the importance of this VCA process, WBA is undertaking to identify primary and support actors and activities that add value to its products and then analyze these actors and activities to reduce or increase cost.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This online workshop is the first of a three-part activity. After the online workshop, participants are expected to undertake practicum on their chosen product in their locality, will receive coaching from a consultant, draft their VCA and share their VCA across the WBA.<br /><br />Leading this three-part activity is Kareen "Kakay' Oloroso-Miels, alliance building consultant, who have deep and wide experience working with local government units across the Philippines and in shepherding local projects as platform for working together and support sustainable livelihood in target communities.<div><br /></div><div>In his message, Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso recognizes the momentum gained and despite of the pandemic, the project is now adopting new strategies in line with the "new normal". He reckons the need for the participants to keep their immediate superior abreast of what's going on in this online 3-part activity and how the MILAB Phase 2 will support the alliance.<br /><br />Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-7299669277627880872020-02-05T23:38:00.000-08:002020-06-15T23:48:16.642-07:00WBA continues partnership with AECID under MILAB Phase 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) headed by Gov Jim Hataman and with the mayors of member LGUs assemble to understand details of Phase 2 partnership with AECID under the Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) Project. (Photo Zhor Barry Hasim)</div>
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Isabela City, Basilan (February 5, 2020) - Member-LGUs of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) convene today for a session to take a look into the 2-year phase 2 implementation of their partnership with AECID, the Spanish Aid Agency in the Philippines, under their “Modelling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) Project.<br />
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Present in today's WBA assembly are the provincial governor and vice governor, the provincial administrator, four mayors from the member-LGUs, provincial and municipal planning and development officers and agriculturists. Also present are IAG's executive director Atty Benny Bacani, deputy director Jacque Fernandez, MILAB consultants Dr Filemon Romero and Karen Oloroso-Miel, MILAB project manager Noor Saada and coordinator Sheila Acquiatan.<br />
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Today's session is to level off with the approved MILAB Phase 2 design and implementation plan. Two (3) technical consultants are also introduced. Ms Karen Oloroso-Miel has been engaged under Phase 1 and brings with her wealth of experiences working with provincial, city and municipal local government units across the country on alliance building through varied focus, from health promotion to natural resources protection and management. Prof Dr. Filemon Romero is the latest consultant to be engaged in this project. He is a marine scientist by profession and had worked with international and local agencies on different facets of marine science, fisheries and oceanography.<br />
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In his opening statement, Basilan Governor Jim Hataman emphasizes the critical roles of local government in project buy-in and sustainability, that donors can come and help them, but it is ultimately their responsibility to start and continue this project within the unique context or situation of the province. He also reiterated the need for balance between coastal resources protection and community livelihood. He observes that the current push for coastal resources protection and management had resulted in community residents lamenting, “allum daying, matay aa” (fish will be well, while people will die). Thus, he encourage the local officials present to use the Western Basilan Alliance as an opportunity to come up with a project that put forward a balance between these two equally important concerns, especially in the need to craft a coastal resources development 'blueprint' for Basilan and the need to work through the WBA framework. <br />
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Atty Benny Bacani, IAG Executive Director and implementing partner of MILAB Phase 2 accepted the governor's challenge and explains the role IAG will play under Phase 2. He said, the technical assistance available this project should entrench sustainability in both the planning and implementation of project activities. </div>
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Prof. Romero made a presentation on environmental protection and sustainable fisheries. Many of the concepts and practices he presented were new and amused the participants. Participants were upbeat with his presentation because they saw opportunities for sustainable livelihood. <br />
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The assembly also heard presentation of the latest from the WBA 99.1 FM radio facility which is now headed by Mr Zia ul Haq Basa. Mr Basa is also serving as manager of the WBA management office housed at the Maluso Town Hall. Mr Basa is not new to WBA as he was very much involved in its early stage when he was a member of the legislative council of Maluso. <br />
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After the assembly, the participants agreed to put in more meat into the approved MILAB Phase 2 activities which are mainly around institutionalizing the alliance and pursuing livelihood as platform for working together. <br />
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Western Basilan Alliance is the first interlocal cooperation in Basilan and is being capacitated by the AECID-funded MILAB 2 Project, implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) in partnership with the provincial and selected municipal governments in the province.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2444736735328651756.post-79001018805931678262020-01-17T03:42:00.000-08:002020-11-17T03:52:12.336-08:00Alliance building - anong basis, key features and models?*<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd486ch0vTXR88bKCKH9ltWp0tYz1zrGcuHzKjgWF1mb-pHFGRDMwac2UQO_S_Fab9mVnFpqxwyfHN2j7fuqutl5JlPz6W9Qh5RPBRfCGaPTDgSrNZiixHxVmeO1didr6GfDFMoRMd4GE/s600/41991903_2393316960683322_8689461443948445696_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="600" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd486ch0vTXR88bKCKH9ltWp0tYz1zrGcuHzKjgWF1mb-pHFGRDMwac2UQO_S_Fab9mVnFpqxwyfHN2j7fuqutl5JlPz6W9Qh5RPBRfCGaPTDgSrNZiixHxVmeO1didr6GfDFMoRMd4GE/w400-h399/41991903_2393316960683322_8689461443948445696_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A team from Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) on Study Tour to <br />the Metro Naga Development Council (MNDC) in September 2018. <br />(Photo credit: IAG)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Legal basis.</b> Contemporary alliance building among local governments in the Philippines traces its beginning to the Local Government Code of 1991 where in Section 33, it provides that “local government units may, through appropriate ordinances, group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their effort, services and resources for purpose commonly beneficial to them". Since then more then twenty (20) alliances have been organized across the country. There are alliances specific about health development, coastal resources development, urban development and alliances centered around the preservation and protection of shared mountain range, marshland and lake. Thus, the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) is perhaps the latest addition to this list.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>From local government alliance to interlocal cooperation. </b>While the beginning has been focused on local government alliances, in the 2nd national summit, there was a recommendation to change from more exclusive local government alliances, towards a more inclusive and "generalized term
to inter-local because the members may
come from the civil society, private sector
and other sectors", or simply the ILC.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Key features of ILC.</b> There are four (4) key features of any interlocal alliance:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ol><li>A common purpose</li><li>A coordinating structure</li><li>A commonly agreed upon systems</li><li>Pooled
resources</li></ol></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Alliance configurations. </b>There are also four (4) alliance configurations:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><ol><li><b>All-LGU or Natural Alliance -</b> "These are LGUs coming together but not forming a new
juridical entity. The legal binding document for this configuration is the
Memorandum of Agreement", e.g. <a href="https://www.coast.ph/ccef-news/10/southeast-cebu-coastal-resource-management-cluster-sccrmc-working-together-for-sustainable-coastal-resources/">Southeast Cebu Coastal Resource Management Council(SCCRMC)</a> and <a href="https://web.facebook.com/lbdalanuzabay/?_rdc=1&_rdr">Lanuza Bay Development Alliance (LBDA)</a> in Surigao del Sur.<br /><br /></li><li><b>All-LGU Alliance with a new juridical entity</b> - "This alliance configuration
is created through congressional acts, presidential executive order or
provincial executive order", e.g. "<a href="https://www.mmda.gov.ph/">Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)</a> and <a href="https://www.pda.gov.ph/">Partido Development Authority (PDA)</a>. <br /><br /></li><li><b>All-Government Alliance</b> –This alliance is made up of LGUs and national
line agencies. One example is the <a href="https://lmda.wordpress.com/">Lake Mainit Development Alliance(LMDA)</a>.<br /><br /></li><li><b>Public-Private Sector Alliance</b> - "Institutionalized in the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)
Act which is the basis for the creation of the PAMB and EO 205 which is the
basis for the creation of the Inter-Local Health Zone (ILHZ)", e.g. <a href="https://region6.bfar.da.gov.ph/WebsiteNavigation?id=30f31a5d-5f58-4cfd-8212-683cb37ff99f&pageAction=contentFrame">Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste and Culasi Bay Wide Management Council(LIPASECU)</a> and <a href="https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1098924">Alliance of Northern Iloilo for Health Development (ANIHEAD).</a></li></ol><div>WBA is currently an all-LGU alliance (#1).<br /><br /></div><div>___________<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Reference: EU-GIZ-CIDA-PDF (2012). "Critical Ingredients in Building and Sustaining Alliance/Inter-Local Cooperation", pages 15 to 21. - https://www.ab.gov.tr/files/ardb/evt/1_avrupa_birligi/1_9_politikalar/1_9_8_dis_politika/Critical_ingredients_in_building_and_sustaining_inter-local_cooperation.pdf </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0