ZEP2030: Livelihood

Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) continues to be the Livelihood Cluster’s lead organization – providing support on crop production, organic production, and water operations.

In the municipality of Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, PEF, in collaboration with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), facilitates and monitors training activities on corn and abaca production. PEF also administers training in coffee bean quality sorting to help peoples organizations (PO) be familiar with coffee quality and trends to avoid the trading of only commercial-grade coffee.

Similarly, in T’boli, South Cotabato, PEF, with Joscual Trading, supports coffee farmers in trading, consolidation, post-harvest, and capacity building to increase the profit of the farmers. A Memorandum of Agreement will be formalized in November 2019 to form a regional consortium among the local government unit, PEF, PhilFIDA, Protect Wildlife, Joscual Trading, United Maligang Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Kinoon Farmers Association. This convergence hopes to build the capacities of the farmers, to facilitate linkage to the market, and to provide basic social services. In addition to this, PEF pursues the expansion of the water systems in the area, and to train a team from Tribal Leaders Development Foundation, Inc. to improve their operations and develop their management skills.

On the other hand, PEF has begun the installation of a water system for irrigation for a PO in Barangay Tumarbong in Roxas, Palawan. PEF is also in collaboration with the Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology, Inc. (PCART) in the capacity building of the farmers in the area to assist in promoting sustainable operations and increasing entrepreneurial opportunities. Another key intervention under the Livelihood Cluster is the Hapag-Asa Integrated Nutrition Program. 20 ZERO EXTREME POVERTY 2030.

Apart from the feeding and education components of the program, Hapag-Asa also focuses on skills training where the parents of the community are supported in organizing small to mediumsized livelihood enterprises to earn additional income for the family. Sustainability of the program relies on the adaptation of the Self-Help Group Approach (SHA) that is tailored to organizing mothers and women in the community into groups, or self-help groups (SHeGs). This group formation prompts the discussion of social, political, economic and spiritual issues and concerns and how to act upon them, such as through administering income generating activities to earn funds. Areas covered by this program under ZEP2030 include Masbate and Rapu-Rapu, Albay in the Bicol Region.