SMALL
ISLANDS
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
(SISDEP)
Twenty
years ago, we launched the Manamoc Island Community Development Project to help
improve the quality of life on
Manamoc
Island
. Then, the project focused
on organizing the Manamoc community for the purpose of improving current health
practices, augmenting family income through the provision of capital and the
introduction of appropriate technologies, and strengthening the community into
managing community activities.
The
program was expanded in 1988 to include the islands of
Concepcion
and
Algeciras
(of the
Municipality
of
Agutaya
) and was renamed Small
Island Development Program (SIDP). Assistance was “re-designed” to
include empowerment of local governments through the development of strong barangay
units, establishment of livelihood projects, and environment conservation
efforts. Under this strategy, ASF incorporated altogether as its partners the
community to the barangay (village)
development council (BDC). The strategy of the SIDP -- anchored on the BDC’s
capabilities to lead and manage their barangay
-- then became alternative development
with empowerment and sustainability as the main goals.
In
its ten years of operations, SIDP had created positive impact in the BDC
officials and the community. Strong leadership skills acquired by the BDCs
showed in their ability to lead and manage their respective barangays
and people. Basic services were also established such as health care delivery
systems, potable water systems, the conduct of medical missions, and the
training of barangay health workers
and community health volunteers. Multi-purpose associations and
income-generating projects were also developed which resulted in an improved
economic status of the cooperatives and its members. Such projects included
vegetable production, livestock production, and seaweed trading. Various
community infrastructure-related projects were also provided.
Learning
from past shortcomings and capitalizing on the strengths of the program, the ASF
further refined its small islands program into the Small Island Sustainable
Development Program. SISDEP now has four key result areas: Effective
& Agenda-directed Governance,
Resource Management,
Economic Enhancement
and Basic Services.
(
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