WBA taps VSU PhilRootcrops for Rootcrops-based Livelihood Program in Basilan

VSU PhilRootcrops and WBA personnel visiting Lantawan mayor Nursiya Ismael
and briefing her on PhilRootcrops and opportunities in root crop-based livelihood programs.

VSU PhilRootcrops' New Mission in Basilan: Establishment of Root crops-based Livelihood Program

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.

 
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.

 
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.

 
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.

 
“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.

 
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.

 
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).

Reference: PhilRootcrops FB Page - https://web.facebook.com/philrootcrops

Western Basilan forms alliance to spur development

By Rene V. Carbayas, PIA

LAMITAN CITY, Basilan, Feb 5 (PIA) -- Local chief executives from the five municipalities of the western part of Basilan Island forged an alliance to spur peace and development in the area.

At the recent consultation meeting with municipal executive officials and partners in Lantawan, the concept of Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) as a development platform was presented.

Noor M. Saada, Project Manager of the Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance in Basilan (MILAB) project said that the consultation is second in a series to inform and mobilize support for the WBA. The Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (Spanish Agency for International Development) AECID-funded MILAB Project and how this will support the WBA as a development platform was also introduced.

More importantly, the consultation aimed at familiarizing participants with the WBA priorities on fisheries, agriculture, environment, peace and order, governance, education, health and eco-tourism.

“The idea of WBA came from the mayors. They have this realization that there is a misconception that Basilan is always in conflict. They would like to demontrate and correct the misconception that not all the areas in Basilan are in conflict, and that a portion of Basilan is ready to jumpstart development because it is relatively peaceful,” Saada said.

He explained that forging an alliance is significant in order to project a bigger impacting project that would entice donor agencies. He added that rather than plan for development in just one town, many donors would be encouraged to support if more areas are covered by their projects.

The Institute of Autonomy and Governance (IAG) leads in the implementation of the MILAB project that intends to support the institutionalization of WBA as an inter-LGU model in the pursuit of common local development agenda.

The 18-month MILAB project intends to capacitate the five towns belonging to the western part of Basilan, namely: Lantawan, Maluso, Hadji Muhtamad, Sumisip, and Tabuan Lasa to undertake and move forward the WBA.

During the meeting the participants were grouped into the six components: fisheries, agriculture, peace and security, good governance, critical social services, and eco-tourism. Various programs and projects were identified that each town may compliment and for possible cooperation and funding.

Meanwhile, Maluso Mayor Hanie A. Bud said that the WBA is a product of brainstorming among local chief executives of the five towns and other support group, who after being enlightened by similar models of cooperation and alliance, decided to form the WBA.

“One unique in western Basilan, aside from the fact that we are relatively peaceful, is the feature of multi-cultural community in the different towns, which we find common and unique to us, and which for us is advantageous,” Mayor Bud explained when asked why the idea of a WBA.

The IAG revealed that Governor Hadjiman “Jim” Hataman-Salliman is really pushing the LGUs and stakeholders on the need to be actively engaged, emphasizing WBA is not a project from the outside, but a culmination of conversations with partners on how to maximize the relative peace and order now at hand in the Western seaboard communities of the province. (ALT/RVC/PIA9-Basilan)

Reference: http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1004726

This article was also published in Mindanao Daily, February 6, 2018, in Cagayan de Oro City, page 2.

Western Basilan Municipal Executives and CSO Partners Explore Alliance Building

Mayor Rustam Ismael of Lantawan, Basilan for hosting last Thursday's consultation meeting for Western Basilan Alliance (WBA) under our “Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance for Basilan” (MILAB) Project supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

Also in photo (Seated L to R): Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso, Mayor Boy Hataman of Sumisip and DepEd Basilan Assistant Superintendent Hadja Nuriya Jamaldin and (partly hidden) PNP Chief Inspector Nelbis Madiwo of Basilan PNP Provincial Police Office.

Lantawan, Basilan – Municipal executive officials and local CSO partners from Hadji Muhtamad, Lantawan, Maluso, Sumisip and Tabuan Lasa municipalities convene today at Barangay Pamucalin, Lantawan, Basilan for an orientation and consultation under the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). Also present are officials from the provincial offices of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and civil society organizations such as the ChildFund and Nagdilaab Foundation.

In his opening statement, Mayor Rustam Ismael of Lantawan says the activity is the second in a consultation series which started last month in Maluso. Together with his fellow mayors, Hanie Bud of Maluso and Boy Hataman of Sumisip, he warmly welcomes the participants to his home municipality which is hosting the meeting. He acknowledges the government offices and civil society partners who made it to the event.

Mayor Hanie Bud of Maluso presents the concept and strategic plan of the Western Basilan Alliance (WBA). He underscores that the task at hand is difficult, but he believes it is time for the Basilan municipalities to dream big “to reach for the moon and even if we fail, we will still land among the stars”.

In this one-day consultation, participants also assess and explore complementation between WBA and their respective municipal development priorities and identify resource mobilization to expedite the realization of their complementing plans.

This second in a consultation series is supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and implemented by the Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) through the 18-month “Modeling Inter-LGU Alliance for Basilan” (MILAB) Project. (MILAB/Ramil Tarami)

NOTE: This article is also published at the IAG website: http://iag.org.ph/index.php/news/1536-western-basilan-municipal-executives-and-cso-partners-explore-alliance-building