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 starts online workshop on value chain today

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WBA continues partnership with AECID under MILAB Phase 2

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.