Author: Lorielyn Patoc

The RESOURCEGov 2 Project team conducted the Final Conference and Sustainability Planning for Region 12 on January 26, 2021 at The Farm @ Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City. It was attended by 60 participants (Male 35, Female 25) in the physical and online setup. Observing the COVID-19 protocols of the province of South Cotabato, the project invited only four (4) representatives per LGU while others joined via Zoom.

The activity started with a prayer and national anthem. Mahintana President and Project Director Mr. Martiniano Magdolot welcomed the participants and partners and shared his hopes of a continuous partnership among the government agencies, LGUs and CSOs. DILG XII Regional Director Josephine Leysa and BLGF XII Regional Director Jeany Tedera gave their messages of support and gratitude for the project. Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines Programme Manager Ms. Carol Maningo’s prerecorded message was played where she expressed her congratulations to the project team and the beneficiaries. After the messages, Project Manager Mr. Roel Ian P. Blanker presented the project milestones while Mr. Gilbert Pacificar, independent evaluator, shared the initial results of the end-of-project evaluation. In the afternoon, the participants wrote and presented their sustainability plans. At end of the conference, Mr. Blanker thanked and congratulated everyone for the success of the project implementation even amidst the various challenges.

The RESOURCEGov 2 Project team conducted the Final Conference and Sustainability Planning for Regions 11 & 13 on January 21-22, 2021 at Lumpini Hall, Dusit Thani Residences Davao, Davao City. It was attended by 40 participants (Male 25, Female 15) in the physical setup while at least 20 online participants via Zoom. The activity was conducted in a blended (physical and online) setup and split to two days to observe the COVID-29 protocols of Davao City. 

The activity started with preliminaries and messages from DILG XIII Assistant Regional Director Donald Seronay and from Delegation of the European Union in the Philippines Programme Manager Ms. Carol Maningo. Project Manager Mr. Roel Ian P. Blanker presented the project milestones while Mr. Gilbert Pacificar, independent evaluator, presented the initial results of the end-of-project evaluation. In the afternoon, the participants wrote and presented their sustainability plans. As part of the sustainability of gains in the municipalities, the project turned over three (3) tablets to the six (6) LGUs of the said regions.

Mahintana Foundation Inc. is hiring the following:

1) Project Officer

• Background on philosophy or social work-related field.
• Background on peace-building activities is an advantage
• Can drive motorcycle

2) Project Bookkeeper

• Accounting/Finance-related course graduate
• Willing to travel

3) Documenter

• Knows how to write human interest stories, capture minutes of meetings, good photo documentation skills and willing to travel
• Understands local dialect such as tribal and Bangsamoro dialects

Interested applicants may submit their application letter, resume, Transcript of Records and other pertinent documents to mahintana_mfi@yahoo.com addressed to:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Mahintana Foundation, Inc.
Cannery Housing, Cannery Site
Polomolok, South Cotabato

The RESOURCEGov 2 Project conducted the 3-day ODK Training of Trainers (ToT) for Mahintana, MINCODE, and other Networks on November 16-18, 2020 at the Mahintana conference room and online via Zoom. Attended by 24 participants (Male 11, Female 13), the training aims to capacitate the project officers to train the respective local experts of LGUs in their areas. In turn, the LGU local experts shall train other departments. This shall form part of the sustainability plan of the use of ODK.

Facilitator Mr. Aristotle Sunada presented the training preparation, presentation and facilitation, and the sustainability plan template. The trainees learned that communication, knowledge of the guiding documents, and managing the group dynamics are required skills to become a trainer/facilitator. Also, the trainer must be able to identify the participants, system requirements and venue before conducting a training. Mr. Sunada taught about the basics of Kobotoolbox and Kobocollect including the system features and the question types. The participants were also able to share their sustainability plans of the LGUs, and the case scenarios on the problems and solutions that can be addressed by using the ODK. The ToT was made more interesting because of the pre-test and post-test in Kahoot!, a quiz app that helped the participants understand the subject better.

The Polomolok Task Force Kalusugan (PTFK), in partnership with LGU Polomolok through the Municipal Health Office (MHO) and Municipal Cooperative Development Council (MCDC), conducted the Contact Tracing Orientation to Mahintana Foundation Inc. and partner cooperatives on October 30, 2020. This orientation aims to intensify the contact tracing measures through proactive collaboration with MCDC in contact tracing of a confirmed COVID-19 positive case. It was attended by at least 50 participants.

Hon. Mayor Honey Lumayag-Matti welcomed the participants saying that everyone’s cooperation is essential in this war against the virus. Dr. Earl Edward Dimamay discussed the definition of contact tracing, the role of contact tracers and the templates used for contact tracing. He emphasized the importance of the data privacy of the individuals involved. Present also during the orientation are the members of DILG contact tracing team and the Polomolok MLGOO Ms. Eleanor Magbanua to answer the questions of the participants during the open forum.  

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XII – Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) South Cotabato, Allah Valley Protected Landscape (AVPL), Mafoko Agri Ventures Development Corporation, Dole Philippines, Inc. (Dolefil), Mahintana Foundation, Inc., and Tboli Farm Growers MPC signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the adoption of the Enhanced National Greening Program – Forest Plantation Project at the Mafoko Agro Industrial Farm in Brgy. Tbolok, T’boli on October 28, 2020.

The Protected Area Management board (PAMB) of the AVPL issued a clearance to Mafoko Agri Ventures for the development of the 456 hectares within the protected landscape. A portion of 100 hectares is allocated for Agro Forestry. Dolefil, through the Mahintana Foundation, Inc. supports the Adopt-A-National Greening Program of the Mafoko by providing assistance in the maintenance and protection of established plantations in CY 2011 – 2017 which have no more financial allocations for the said activities from the eNGP.

The Task Force Polomolok Kalikasan at Kaligtasan (TFP2K) underwent the Gully Classification Consultative Meeting/Forum on October 28, 2020 conducted by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of Polomolok. The TFP2K, headed by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO)-Polomolok and Mahintana Foundation, Inc. (MFI) as secretariat, requested the said forum to know whether the gullies/dry creeks are private or public properties. Following the COVID-19 protocols, the activity was done in a blended manner (both virtual and physical) attended by 19 participants.

Hon. Alan Ines, the SB Chairman of Environment and Natural Resources Committee welcomed the participants. Ridge-to-Reef (R2R) Project Coordinator Ms. Ella Mae Babao presented overview and objective of the activity highlighting the soil stabilization and gully bank protection interventions. Engr. Danny Pelias presented the location map of the gullies. The presentation of legal opinions were given by Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Buayan, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XII.

Polomolok Municipal Health Office (MHO) and Mahintana Foundation Inc. (MFI) collected water samples from the Kinilis Potable Water System (KPWS) Rehabilitation Project on October 26, 2020 at Prk. 8, Brgy. Kinilis, Polomolok, South Cotabato. Twelve water samples were collected and brought to South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH) for water analysis.

During the water sampling, it was observed that the water has no discoloration compared to the previous sampling conducted last July 27 that yielded all 12 samples positive to E.coli. It was noted that there was a heavy rain prior to the last sampling conducted. As for the planted forest trees, approximately 70% (2,100/3,000) have survived. Mortalities were caused by alleged grazing livestock in the area and weed entanglement.

Mahintana Foundation Inc. (MFI) welcomed the Sarangani Provincial Bamboo Industry Development Team (SPBDIT) and the Department of Trade and Industry-Sarangani (DTI-Sarangani) in the Bamboo House on October 23, 2020. The activity is part of the Sarangani’s Learning Mission on Bamboo Plantation and Processing Centers that seeks to gain exposure and knowledge on bamboo-based projects in SOCSKSARGEN esp. on how South Cotabato is leading in the promotion of bamboo industry in the region.

Dolefil-assisted Program (DAP) Coordinator shared the about MFI’s bamboo house and crafts, while SOLARES Project Coordinator presented the integration of solar energy into bamboo house. As an agreement, MFI can ask assistance from DTI-Sarangani on capacity development trainings for bamboo industry. However, DTI-Sarangani’s capital outlay for 2020 activities was aligned to the COVID-19 response.

Mahintana Foundation, Inc. (MFI) through its Ridge-to-Reef (R2R) Program conducted site evaluation on October 15, 2020 the request for planting materials of Tibud sa Katibawasan Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TSKMPC)/ Rotary Club of Central Polomolok (RCCP). The afore-stated office has requested a total of 100 hills of bamboo to be planted at Field 108F Gully, Prk. Cassava, Brgy. Maligo, Polomolok. The said activity is one of the riverbank protection and rehabilitation measures.

On August 16, 2018, RCCP have planted 100 bamboo hills and 200 assorted fruit and forest trees in the area with 75% (75/100) and 82% (164/200) survival rates respectively. As for the installed signage, it was still intact but was covered by the canopy of a Senna spectabilis (Yellow cassia).