By: Engr. Victor Tabaquirao
(Greetings…)
Social engineers build families, communities and nations. Being one of them, I am inviting you to participate in the gargantuan tasks of helping people liberate themselves from the shackles of ignorance and poverty.
The people we serve have to be LITERATE to be able to acquire the right KNOWLEDGE, learn the necessary SKILLS, and imbibe the proper ATTITUDES to become productive members of our communities.
Our institutions and leaders MUST WORK TOGETHER to be able develop and implement programs, projects and activities aimed to achieve these gigantic tasks. We have to design simple but efficient organizational structures and effective implementation schemes that enhance maximum COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.
Leaders like you and me must provide the RIGHT DIRECTION and SUPERVISION during the implementation of these programs, projects, activities and initiatives. We have to focus our attention on the DEGREE OF RESISTANCE TO CHANGE present among the target beneficiaries and the program implementors as well. This is a decisive factor that may expedite or hinder the process of achieving the desired goals.
People participate or enrol in the Literacy Program, projects and activities because they wanted to achieve positive changes in their way of life. Meanwhile, the rest of the people in the community just watch and wait until they see something convincing happens.
Believe on what you are doing because this is for the good of the community. Success is just a step away. Our first task is to break the resistance to change among all of us by achieving initial SUCCESS.
But I am reminding you that success has so many fathers while failure is an orphan. Program implementors must always bear this in their minds. Likewise, credit grabbing and crab mentality among all of us will definitely attack our ranks. No one will be spared. So, train your hearts to be tough and forget about crying. Self pity will eat you up.
Start with simple and achievable goals. Show to the people that by working together, achieving success is as easy as ABC. This is just the beginning. Build people’s confidence and never sit on your laurels. Move forward. Launch a campaign for community support. What we need are the support mechanism, facilities, infrastructure, financial resources and the most the vital are the PEOPLE with BIG HEARTS - willing to do a lot of sacrifices. They are the Program Staff who are in the forefront in the implementation. They are you. These are the basic requirements to ensure program SUSTAINABILITY.
Your initial success supplemented by the “gaya gaya” mentality among our people will tremendously increase the number of people who would want to avail the benefits of the PROGRAM. This will without doubt happen because they would like to get the same benefits, if not, more benefits compared with what the early birds have. Surely you can’t please them all. But just serve them best.
Johnny come lately is certainly coming. This is definite as the sun will rise tomorrow. What you did before, to them is not enough. They will come and offer the supposed better package. Just accommodate the well-meaning ones. Others might come like rotten apples.
Let us build institutions! People come and go but not institutions. LITERACY PROGRAM must be transformed into living institution. Build and evolve structures and arrangements that instil liberating impacts on people. Let us make Literacy Program as an ultimate enabling tool for development.
These are some of our lessons and insights drawn from our Literacy Program implementation for more than a decade now.
At this point, let me share to you some our experiences.
I begin to fully realize the prime importance of the Literacy Program being pursued by the National Literacy Coordinating Council in coordination with the Bureau of Alternative Learning System of DepEd when I was able to attend a national conference like this more than a decade ago. What challenged me most was the assertion posed by the speaker that the people need to be functionally literate in order that they could understand and appreciate government programs and become productive members of our society.
That very moment, I made a commitment to myself that I will make these things happen in my hometown for the benefit of my constituents being the municipal mayor at that time and for the satisfaction of my soul.
The Municipality of Tubungan in the Province of Iloilo is located in the mountainous area where ignorance, poverty and insurgency are considered major problems. Our town hall had been attacked twice by the New People’s Army, cell sites have been destroyed, transports facilities of businessmen burned and many more.
When I arrived home from that conference, I immediately reorganized the Municipal Literacy Coordinating Council to provide fresh mandate and new vigor to our local Literacy Program dubbed as: Delivery of Assistance towards Literacy On New Techniques and Approaches, (DAL-ON TA) . The acronym “Dal-on ta” is a local term which means "let's deliver, transfer, or pass," the very essence of the program - to deliver, pass on, transfer literacy to the underserved constituents. We also organized Barangay Literacy Coordinating Council (BLCC) to encourage maximum community participation at the barangay level
DAL-ON TA is composed of two major components - the Community Learning Center (CLC) and Samahan ang Gobyerno sa Ikauunlad ng Pamayanan, (SAGIP) in English, "Team up with the Government for the Progress of the Community"). Sagip is also a Filipino term which means "to save, to rescue."
We renovated the old municipal hall and was converted into the Municipal Community Learning Center. Situated right at the heart of the municipality, the learning center is accessible as well as open to all barangays. A CLC Committee was created by the MLCC to manage the center. Inspired by the positive results of the trainings among community members, the BLCCs replicated the CLC in half the total number of barangays in the municipality.
Among the trainings held in the CLC are Basic Literacy, Continuing Education, and Lifelong Learning Programs, such as Functional Education Literacy, Literacy cum Livelihood, Army Literacy Patrol System, Family Based Literacy, Accreditation and Equivalency Program, Mothers' Class, Barangay Officials' seminars, Barangay Peace Officer (TANOD) Trainings , Barangay Health Workers Meetings, Barangay Service Point Officers gatherings and Marriage Counseling. The CLC also serves as recreational center for indoor games and community library.
Through the initiative of the MLCC, the Department of Education BALS provided two mobile teachers to extend literacy classes in far-flung barangays of the municipality. They were assigned to hold basic literacy classes for OSYs and adult non-literates and live with the people in the community. Various programs, projects, and activities were facilitated to motivate people's participation in the classes.
Barangay Aid On Literacy, (BAOL) was introduced as another innovation. The acronym BAOL is a local term which means treasure chest, a wooden box where valuable things are kept. This treasure chest is actually a travelling library that serves as an extension of the CLC. This "file treasure chest” contains books, modules, and other reading materials. It is delivered to the house of target learners where it stays for three days before it is transferred to another house. A barangay official is assigned to identify the target learner and who also acts as the facilitator of the learners. After the first rotation, another set of materials from the CLC will be placed in the book for another round of rotation. It was first designed to cater to the educational needs of the indigenous people of Sitio NN, Barangay Sibucauan. But with the benefits the learners are reaping, BAOL was replicated in other barangays through the initiative of BLCCs.
To further enhance BAOL, the “Kaalaman sa Literasiya Ay Tagumpay, (AKLAT)” was designed. AKLAT is a Filipino term which means "book." This was aimed to publish locally made learning materials using the vernacular or language of Tubungan folks. Various materials were published such as modules, booklets, and brochures in agriculture, health, cooking (menus and recipes) using raw materials found in the locality, and writing of "binalaybay" collection (local poems), history of Tubungan and its barangays, among others. The aim of the AKLAT program is for community members to better comprehend what they read, write, and compute. It was assessed that the folks better understood the lessons in the vernacular and successfully applied these in their daily activities, such as knowing their history, roots, and literature; in computing the goods they sell; and, among mothers and women, health care for their children and managing their finances.
On the other hand , SAGIP is composed of various projects that cater to functional literacy and livelihood skills suited to a particular barangay. These projects cater to mothers, women, OSYs, adult non-literates, rebel returnees, unemployed youth, and dropouts who want to pursue studies.
This program component was spearheaded by the MLCC in close coordination with various concerned agencies such as the Department of Education (Elementary, Secondary and Alternative Learning System), Liga ng mga Barangay (League of Villages), Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council), and offices of the Municipal Health, Municipal Agriculture, Municipal Social Services, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the academe such as the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST) Extension, Western Vlsayas State University (WVSU) Extension, University of the Philippines- Barangay Integrated Development Approach on Nutrition Improvement (UP-BIDANI), Central Philippine University Extension, and other concerned institutions and organizations.
This is basically an innovation or convergence program aimed at maximizing the existing resources of the LGU, the NGAs, NGO’s and the Private Sector for the benfefit of a focused target.
Under SAGIP , we have:
SAGIP AGRICULTURE (Agricultural/ Growth, Reforms, Innovations, and Culture)
Being an agricultural municipality, focus is set on the situation of farmers and their farming practices. Intercropping, Integrated Pest Management System, Organic Farming, and High Value Crop Production are but some of the priority programs introduced to maximize production and income of the family. Integration of literacy in various seminars and trainings made a great impact in the lives of the farmers and their families.
SAGIP HEALTH (Holistic Education And Literacy for Tubunganons' Health)
The Municipal Health Office focused attention to the sanitation and cleanliness of the municipality. Mothers' Class was organized in the barangays to inform and educate mothers that a healthy and hygienic community starts at home. SAGIP HEALTH personnel lectured on Nutrition, Environmental Education, Food Preparation, and Family Planning, and continuously monitored the health practices of community members.
SAGIP SOCIAL SERVICES (SOCIAL Services and Educational Reforms for Valuable
Improvement and Competitiveness to achieve Excellence and Success)
The Municipal Social Services Office is mandated to care for, protect, and rehabilitate indigent Tubunganons in terms of their physical, mental, and social well-being. Programs such as Day Care Service, Supplemental Feeding, Livelihood, and Senior Citizens Program were given importance.
The municipality is also a pilot recipient of the Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (CIDDS) Program of the national government.
SAGIP HELP (Help Educate Tubunganons through Livelihood Development Programs)
Livelihood skills development and job opportunities were given importance by the MLCC After the OSYs, OSAs, rebel returnees, and unemployed adults have attended the literacy and continuing education programs, various trainings were offered to equip them with skills especially those that are in demand locally and abroad. The recipients were trained in Rebar Bending, Carpentry, Welding, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Food Beverages, Catering Services, Spa Therapy, and Commercial Cooking. This program was realized in coordination with TESDA, the Provincial Government, and other NGOs and Community Organizations who extended additional funding and technical assistance.
SAGIP ESKWELA - Estudyanteng Kulang sa Wastong Edukasyon ay Lapitan at Asikasuhin, (ESKWELA)
Eskwela is a Filipino word which means "to go to school." This program was initiated by the Department of Education. The target beneficiaries are elementary and secondary dropouts, parents, rebel returnees, OSYs, OSAs, OSCs, mothers, and barangay officials. The main objective of the program is to help and assist learners to finish their elementary and secondary education. Included in SAGIP ESKWELA are the Preschool Program, Parent Education Program, establishment of a National High School, E-Learning Program, and School on the Air Program with integration of Spiritual and Values Re-formation and physical and cultural development for a holistic education program. The livelihood program with values education/classes are integrated with Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) to make the program attracted to the learners.
Parent Education Program
School Administrators were given orientation by the DEPED BALS in coordination with the MLCC to strengthen Parents-Teachers-Community Association (PTCA). They were encouraged to organize classes on values education, responsible parenthood to enhance the academic performance of their children. Through this, they can assist their children in their school assignments. Dropout parents were also encouraged to enroll in A&E classes and after completing and passing the test, they can avail of livelihood trainings for local and oversees employment to sustain their family's needs.
Preschool Program
Preschool Program for children aged 4-6 years was given paramount importance. Kindergarten classes were handled by teachers equipped with training in teaching basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills to preschoolers in the barangays.
Establishment of Lanag Norte National High School
The MLCC spearheaded the establishment of the first secondary school outside the town proper - the Lanag Norte National High School in SY 2003-2004. The school caters to the educational needs of eighteen (18) far-flung barangays. It is also notable that since the opening of this barangay high school, a considerable number of OSYs and OSAs have returned to school because of the school's proximity to their area. Some parents were forced to return to school due to the persistence of their children. There was even an instance when the father and her daughter became classmates, the former being the Parents' Association President while the latter graduated as class salutatorian.
eLearning Program
The learning is a flagship project of the Alternative Learning System in cooperation with the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT). It envisions to provide ICT-enhanced educational opportunities for Filipino OSYs and adults. The LGU through the MLCC put up an E-Learning Center with six computers for the learners. The center serves as a venue where the recipients and other community members can learn new skills and competencies using computers, review for A&E System exam and/or prepare OSYs to rejoin the formal school system.
School on the Air Program
The MLCC also utilizes the media to bring education to the community, so that learners, who may be busy at home or in the farm, can still acquire education by listening to the radio. Radio Based Instruction is the pilot program of SAGIP MAGTALAS, Barangay Cadabdab, Tubungan, lloilo. The KALIKASAN FM of the Philippine Army assigned in the locality airs various literacy programs such as environmental preservation, values formation, and spiritual enhancement for Tubunganons.
SAGIP LIGA NG MGA BARANGAY (Literacy Integration In Governance and Activities in the BARANGAYS)
This program was spearheaded by the MLCC, ALS, and BLCC. Based on the result of Literacy Mapping conducted by the ALS Implementers of the DEPED-BALS, the barangays with considerable number of adult non-literates and OSYs were organized. Various literacy programs and projects were implemented such as the construction of Barangay CLC, Mothers' Class, and Clean and Green Program.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) initiated trainings and seminars for barangay officials to enhance their leadership skills on good governance. Active participation and awareness on the part of the people and the youth were also given focus and priority.
SAGIP MA YANG (Mamamayan Ay Yaman Ng Gobyerno / The People are the Wealth of the
Government)
Barangay Mayang is the pilot barangay of FELP. Basic literacy class was organized by MLCC, ALS, BLCC, the Philippine Army, and other agencies.
Literacy cum livelihood program was initiated for mothers such as Food Preservation, Stuff Toys Making, and Basic Sewing. The barangay is also the pilot recipient UPV- BID AN I program for mothers and children.
SAGIP MAGTALAS (Mamamayan At Gobyerno Tulungan Ang Literasiya Ating
Samahan/ Help the People and the Government, Let's go with Literacy)
SAGIP MAGTALAS was implemented by Barangay Cadabdab through the initiative of the BLCC in cooperation with DepEd-ALS and other agencies, Mother's Craft classes were the focus of this project which included Nutrition Class, Slippers Making, Bag Making, Furniture Making, Swine Dispersal and Vegetable Production. OSYs and adults were also trained and involved in the community affairs.
The barangay CLC and Radio Based Instruction were piloted in Magtalas. Magtalas is one of the hills found in the municipality known for its ideal cone. It is considered the landmark of the barangay.
SAGIP BUKIDNON (Buhay sa Kinabukasan, Dunong ng Nayon Obligadong Nililinang. (Nurture Education in the Village for a Brighter Future)
SAGIP BUKIDNON especially caters to the people of Barangay Igpaho who belong to the Indigenous People (IP) of Sulud or Bukidnon Tribe of Western Visayas. The Bukidnon tribe is recognized by the National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP) which also assists in the preservation of the IP's culture, traditions, and beliefs. "Sayaw" a tribal dance is being portrayed during the special occasions in the community, believing to drive the evil spirits present It is well preserved by the people by teaching the barangay folks and even the small children to adopt the native dance.
Through SAGIP BUKIDNON, the recipients improved socially, mentally, spiritually, morally, and politically. They are now active and productive citizens of the community with high regard for their identity as members of the Bukidnon Tribe. Despite of the location of Barangay Igpaho which is the farthest in the municipality, two members of the tribe had successfully finished their college degree and hired as permanent teachers of the elementary school in the said barangay.
SAGIP LABAY (Literasiya Ay Buhay at Yaman / Literacy is Life and Wealth)
SAGIP LABAY is implemented in Barangay Igtuble, known for its numerous beauty spots. This program is named after LABAY, a mythical cave believed to be inhabited by fairies according to local folks.
Since the barangay is situated in the highlands and has a considerable population, the program caters to OSYs, mothers, adults, and farmers. Folks with special skills In music organized a STRING BAND as means of welcoming the visitors coming in their village. The place is very suitable for planting flowers, vegetables and fruits. The BLCC conducted different trainings such as flower production, flower arrangement and marketing techniques. Trainings on the preservation of fruits and vegetables were also made possible for the sustainability of their livelihood.
SAGIP BULAK (Barangay Unahin sa Literasiya para sa Ating
Kinabukasan/Prioritize Literacy in the Barangay for a Better Future)
Barangay Victoria is the second farthest barangay of the municipality. It is blessed with rich soil and good climate. It is the little Baguio of the municipality because of its cold weather. Flowers are easily grown in the locality. Through the initiative of the BLCC and the community, SAGIP BULAK was born in 2005. BULAK is a Kinray-a or local term for "flower." Various basic literacy, continuing education, and lifelong learning classes were organized here by the agencies to uplift the literacy rate of the people Mothers' Class, Nutrition Program, Waste Management, and Flower Production were the priority projects in this barangay.
SAGIP BATO (Barangay Ating Tulungan at Obligahin / Let us Help and Support
our Barangay)
Barangay Bato initiated the SAGIP BATO as the BLCCs basic literacy, continuing education, and lifelong learning program. Bato is a Filipino term for "stone." The strong support of the BLCC to the LCU accomplished for the municipality a 100% electrification and access to "farm to market" roads for the barangay. These projects opened the avenue for development in the barangay. At present, farmers can easily transport their products to the central market, which include peanut, com, palawan, and rope made of maguey.
SAGIP BUHAY (Disaster Preparedness, Rescue and Rehabilitation Program to save Lives and Families)
With the rapid climate change that resulted to flooding, landslides and other natural calamities, the Municipal Disaster Coordinating Council was activated and made functional. The major landslide that happened in our municipality opened the eyes of everyone to be equipped with basic skills in information management, rescue and rehabilitation from the municipal to barangay level.
Our efforts did bear fruits. Two member of an Indigenous People (IP) are now permanent teachers and serve in a school in their community. They are the living inspirations to all IP’s. They started to defeat ignorance and poverty when they enrolled in the Literacy Program and prove in themselves and their tribe that it can be done.
Under the SAGIP HELP program, many out-of-youths, rebel returnees and unemployed adults were trained in various skills trainings with TESDA, DepEd and LGU. We thought we’ve done something great with these training, but to our dismay, they remained unemployed and unproductive members of our communities. They have the skills but there are no jobs for them here. They wanted to go abroad but they can’t pass the trade testing for the jobs needed there. Something is lacking.
Another innovation was introduced in 2006. Here’s comes YWA Human Resource Development, a recruitment agency for land-based workers abroad. We forged formal partnership with them and we found a solution to something missing I earlier mentioned. We recognized the need to enhance the skills of our working population to match with the needs of companies abroad.
Special Enhancement Training for Rebar Bender, Steel Fixers and Carpentry were introduced using the tools used by industries abroad. They were trained on how to pass interviews, prepare resume’, and re-instil in them the values needed while at work and as good members of the community.
With no reservation, the LGU allocated funds for this. Not so many people responded to this first enhancement training. But when they knew that at least five of the trainees qualified and got employed in South Korea earning P45,000 to P75,000 per month, our second batch and subsequent trainings were attended by not less than 60 participants. To our surprise many were able to qualify and passed the trade tests for workers to be employed in the Middle East by Samsung, Yundai, VSL, etc.
Another problem cropped-up. They need money to finance their placement and other fees. I recalled the experience one trainee who shared that he just noticed his tears falling as he walk going to town with his cow to be sold to support his expenses just to be employed abroad. He did not fail. Upon receiving his salary he bought new and more cows to satisfy his sorrowful feeling when he sold his favourite cow.
The Financing Sector participation came in. Thanks to Tubungan Employees Development Cooperative (TEDCO). This cooperative came in to complete our journey to a successful Literacy Program. Loans were extended to workers qualified for work abroad. In return, workers directly remit their salaries to the TEDCO thereby beefing-up the cooperative’s financial standing. Millions were spent for loans of qualified workers and in return many millions of dollars were remitted by OFWs back to TEDCO, in Tubungan, their hometown. The economic impact of this partnership is beyond our expectation.
I would like to emphasize that because their multi-skills and right attitudes at work many of them got promoted in less than one year. Of one of them has been chosen as one the outstanding OFW by OWWA for his community involvement in their barangay.
Joy and satisfaction filled our hearts AND FILLED MY SOUL when we need to mobilize the municipal employees to facilitate the booking the flights of our trainees already going abroad to work in batches of ten’s, 20’s and 30’. We achieved this great harvest just before we were chosen as Hall of Fame Awardee. As of now, there are 379 are employed after taking the enhancement training workers. Those who finished contracts have already returned under a new contract. As of today another 100 workers have qualified for Saudi Arabia. But our Literacy Program beneficiary is not confined to them; many are now gainfully employed locally.
Program beneficiaries learned kindness and live with it. When they came home upon finishing their contracts, they served as trainors for the beginners taking enhancement trainings. They even provide foods and lend tools during trainings. They pooled their resources and donated it to improve and make the Municipal Learning Center more conducive to learning and presentable. They donated more sophisticated audio system to replace the old karaoke we used before.
Now the skills and technology that were totally absent in our town before are being learned by and in the neighbourhood. Returning workers teach and train their brothers, their relatives and friends. They even extend their skills to Literacy Program in other towns in our province. Indeed we finished our homework.
DAL-ON TAL program still continues to explore other areas especially for the benefit of women. We are looking forward to look into investment opportunities for OFW families, their wives, mothers, siblings etc. as the case maybe. We need to lead them to invest their hard earn income to highly productive endeavours. We now open avenues of transforming our existing marginal rice farming into rich area of investment for track gardening and commercial agricultural production. By the time, these plans are realized we can safely say we achieved the next level of success.
Our Literacy Program Committee will continue to think, learn and innovate from our great lessons and insights drawn from experiences. We have a lot to do and I know IT CAN BE DONE.
Take a look into the paradigm of how Quality of Life is achieved through our DAL-ON TA Literacy program model.
Notes:
Community Participation must not be misconstrued as mere support to make the program successful. Everyone must be a stakeholder. The LGU/DepEd, Tesda participate because it is part of their mandates. YWA and TEDCO participate because it’s part of their business. The community participate because they are benefitting from the program. With this arrangement who if going to stop participating? I guess none.
On the other hand, let me emphasize that the Annual Literacy Program Evaluation and Awards is one of key and commendable initiates of the National Literacy Coordinating Council with the support of DepEd-BALS. Kudos to the men and women behind this great idea. It is very rewarding. It re-energizes our minds, hearts and souls to more forward in leaps and bounds.
This only proves that in implementing development programs, aside from the internal monitoring, evaluation and awards on our level, external evaluation and awards are also vital.
Before I say I am finished, may I request everyone to stand and form a big circle. Let’s hold each others hand and pause for a while and share each other energies and commitment to serve our communities and country.
Thank you very much. I hope you have started learning from our painful experiences as I learn with you today.
________________________
Engr. Victor Tabaquirao is the incumbent Vice Mayor of Tubungan, Iloilo
He was the Municipal Mayor of Tubungan for nine (9) years and the
Chairman of the Municipal Literacy Coordinating Council.
He is also the incumbent President of the Federation of Farmers Association Inc. in Tubungan, Ilo
