WBA completes VCA training today

A screenshot of the online validation today using Zoom application.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

WBA begins Training on Institutional Requirements for Alliance Building

A screenshot of the Introductory Session on 
the Training on Institutional Requirements for Alliance Building 

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.

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'. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

WBA Commences Training on Financial Requirements for Alliance Building

A screenshot of the Introductory Session on 
the Training on Financial Requirements for Alliance Building. 

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.

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. 

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). 

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. 

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. 

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. 

WBA starts Training on Legal Requirements for Alliance Building

Online coaching session with provincial and municipal groups
facilitated by the consultant. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.