By: Cristina Segnaken-Aban, CORDNET

Highlights of members’ initiatives discussed during the CODE-NGO Social Development Week, September 21-24, 2020, presented by Ms. Cristina Aban, President of the Cordillera Network of NGOs and POs (CORDNET)

Naimbag nga malem kadatayo amin! Good afternoon.

The Corona Virus has affected all of us since March of this year until today. The Philippines has, to date, 294,951 accumulated positive cases of Covid-19 and 5,091 accumulated deaths. We have yet to flatten the proverbial curve. Meanwhile, during the community quarantine we witnessed the economy slowing down, jobs that were lost, and hunger experienced by many, among other social and political issues aggravated by the effects of the pandemic.

Despite a dismal context, we heard stories of hope and inspiration from the communities we serve. From the e-Talk sessions in the past three days of the Social Development Week of CODE-NGO, we saw and listened to members, partners and leaders who coped with the Covid-19 pandemic and offered solutions to challenges they face. Some solutions were basic and effective, and others were innovative and creative. We are happy to share the highlights of the initiatives here.

The Central Visayas Network of NGOs (CENVISNET) and its partners in Metro Cebu, through the Wellbeing Cluster Philippines, supported frontliners with virtual mental health and psychosocial support in different areas in Cebu. An off-shoot of CENVISNET’s humanitarian response, the Wellbeing Cluster provided mental health services to community facilitators and health professionals in times of disaster. The pandemic is now considered another type of disaster, and apart from the immediate physical health needs of the community, the Wellbeing Cluster stresses the importance to address mental health needs. This is validated by the different testimonies we heard in the 1^st e-Talk. Psychosocial support and mental health allow us to “care for the carers” as we, development workers, need others to take care of us as well.

The cooperative sector has not been idle during the community quarantine. We heard from three cooperatives who have very good track record pre-Covid – the San Dionisio Credit Cooperative in Paranaque City, the Baao Parish Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Camarines Sur, and the Oro Integrated Cooperative based in Cagayan de Oro City, all members of the National Network of Cooperatives (NATCCO). The cooperatives’ general managers all shared how they adjusted and responded to the needs of their cooperative’s members – loan restructuring, deferment of payments, withholding demotion policies for members, and devising new loan products such as bicycle loans or computer loans, all while maintaining liquidity. Cash assistance to members and release of their dividends added to make economic burdens easier.  Members find value in staying with their cooperatives because of the assistance they receive and the steady leadership that they trust their resources with.

Collaboration is the key to make ends meet. CODE-NGO members in the Cordilleras and in Bicol have collaborated with another CODE-NGO member, the Philippine Business of Social Progress (PBSP) to bring fresh produce from the provinces to communities in need in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. With the funds raised from the Bayanihan Musikahan and other donations, PBSP distributed food through the Super Karinderya initiative. Other initiatives spearheaded by PBSP are the Hunger Project, Mask4AllPH or mask distribution, and iWASH or installation of handwashing facilities.

Related to the issue of hunger and food security, the Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human Resources in Rural Areas (PHILDHRRA) showcased initiatives to mitigate hunger and provide economic opportunities at the same time. The story behind Veggies for Good and the Bukluran Market is heartwarming. From the intention and passion to help fellow men and women, and with a little creativity and sacrifice, these two initiatives are models of enterprises that source fruits and vegetables directly from farming communities and indigenous peoples and ventures out to different markets in the metro. Instead of the produce going into waste, the enterprises’ movers thought it best to sell these as they saw the demand for food in the time of quarantine. We also heard in the same forum the continuing plight of small farmers now aggravated by the quarantine and the neglect of the importance of farming, especially in today’s youth. With new government programs on developing the agriculture sector and support from experts from development partners, people’s organizations and NGO networks should work together in ensuring food sufficiency.

In ending, as we talk about respectful collaboration, may I push further an issue that came out from the sharing? There seems to be very few who responds to the need for more professional psychiatrists and psychologists. This remains a challenge to those offering scholarships, the academe, government, and NGOs.

And there are many and more stories from our members’ experience in responding to the pandemic. Thank you and good afternoon.