Forest Foundation Philippines - Bukidnon Case Study

Grow Livelihoods Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental Landscape Project update as of February 2020

Creation of social enterprise intermediaries for local and indigenous livelihoods TAGLINE: LET’S GROW TOGETHER.

he logo is made of 4 quadrants that stand for elements st ecosystem. The colors of the quadrants are t the element they are representing: green for the trees r the sun, blue for the surrounding bodies of water and soil. Together, they represent harmony and the t plays in bringing life to the other parts of the forest.

agline

Where others simply see trees, we envision forests and thriving communities that are enriched by the partnerships between organizations and advocates who support the simple truth that we are all part of an intricate and delicate balance. And more than individual survival, we need to stand as one - we need to grow together.

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Lessons Learned and Recommendations

PROJECT TITLE: Biodiversity-Friendly Social Entrepreneurship Program for

Benefits gained by senior leadership from NGO-PO partnerships, supported by government and educational institutions

Absence of data prevent a realistic starting point for both organizations

Ensure sufficient appreciation of onthe-ground dynamics

Be clear about stakeholders expectations

Communicate with all stakeholders and appreciate different perspectives

Willingness to learn by both KGVA and MILALITTRA helped facilitate the project

Selected Areas in Bukidnon/Misamis Oriental GRANTEE: Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) PROJECT LOCATION: Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental GRANT AMOUNT: PhP 3,000,000 | DURATION: January to June 2019

Overall Goal and Objectives To support the development of social enterprises in selected sites in partnership with the Forest Foundation Philippines.

To develop the project work plan and enterprise framework plan To research on the biodiversity preservation compliance and market feasibility of high value crops (HVCs) and/or non-timber forest products in the Bukidnon/Misamis Oriental sites To develop the enterprise model and/or plan for implementation by the POs and other stakeholders Context and Problem The selected community partners were the Kitanglad Guard Volunteers Association (KGVA) and the Miarayon-Lapok-LironganTinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA) of Mt. Kalatungan. The Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of Mt. Kitanglad supported the KGVA and was consulted. The KGVA is comprised of the volunteer forest guards of Mt. Kitanglad, while MILALITTRA is composed of members of the Talaandig indigenous peoples in Mt. Kalatungan. The PAMB Kalatungan was likewise consulted. The KGVA membership serve as volunteer guards of the Kitanglad Mountain Range and report any violation of the protected area law to the area superintendent (PASu).

KGVA members reside in 28 barangays surrounding the Kitanglad Range.

Each barangay receives an allowance of PhP 5,000 per month, regardless

Ways Forward

All project activities have been concluded and data gathered from both KGVA and MILALITTRA have been validated Ensuing from the validation, the recommendation for each organization is to identify the stakeholders that will help mentor them in the development of the social enterprise intermediaries

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF A SOG

of the number of their volunteers (and classification of the municipality where the barangays are located), and PhP 200 from that amount goes to the group’s emergency fund. The volunteers also have an insurance coverage worth PhP 100,000.

MILALITTRA is composed of the 2,500 families belonging to the TalaandigKalatungan ethnic group residing in 39 sitios in the four barangays of Talakag within their ancestral domain— Miarayon, Lapok, Lirungan, and Sitio Tinaytayan, San Miguel. MILALITTRA membership protects Kalatungan from illegal loggers, address forest fires, and provide regular education on culture and care for the environment.

Activities and Implementation Challenges

LOGO

ing as a leaf, the logo is made of 4 quadrants that stand for elements mprise a forest ecosystem. The colors of the quadrants are nated to reflect the element they are representing: green for the trees iage, yellow for the sun, blue for the surrounding bodies of water and for the Earth’s soil. Together, they represent harmony and the tion each part plays in bringing life to the other parts of the forest.

Where others simply see trees, we envision forests and thriving communities that are enriched by the partnerships between organizations and advocates who support the simple truth that we are all part of an intricate and delicate balance. And more than individual survival, we need to stand as one - we need to grow together.

8

Main Logo & Tagline

The three indigenous groups of Mt. Kitanglad, namely the Bukidnon, Higaonon, and the Talaandig, as represented by the Talama Council of Elders, which, in turn, occupies a seat in the PAMB Kitanglad, requested a dialogue with the project team, and

ACTION STEPS

Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews were conducted with PAMBs of Kitanglad and Kalatungan, and the KGVA and MILALITTRA officers and members regarding knowledge, skills, and practices related to social enterprise.

Site visits were conducted to selected KGVA production sites and MILALITTRA’s coffee nursery.

Validation of research data with each organization’s leadership and initial planning for their respective enterprises was undertaken.

Not all the 28 barangays surrounding Mt. Kitanglad were visited; only a sample size of the KGVA membership and distribution of the KGVA production sites were respectively surveyed and visited.

KGVA membership consisted of members of the indigenous peoples’ tribes, non-IP members, and migrants to Bukidnon, conflicts were present.

The Talama Council of Elders’ role in the establishment of the social enterprise was not clarified.

Both KGVA and MILALITTRA have not developed the practice of documenting their initial enterprise data and therefore, historical enterprise information was inadequate.

Forest Foundation Philippines 2F Valderrama Building, 107 Esteban Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City 1229 TAGLINE: LET’S GROW TOGETHER. Website: forestfoundation.ph Phone: +63 2 8891-0595 +63 2 8864-0287

Action Steps and Solutions

DIALOGUE between three IPs, project team and other stakeholders

RITUAL conducted by the Talama and MILALITTRA Council of Elders

ENTERPRISE PLANNING spearheaded by KGVA and MILALITTRA leadership

other stakeholders, preceding the data validation. The project manager included such a dialogue with the Council to ensure acceptance of the project, with the participation of the KGVA officers, the PASu, and other stakeholders, such as BukSU and PCAI. The Talama and the MILALITTRA Council of Elders respectively and separately held a ritual to bless the activities undertaken as part of the project, the stakeholders, and the enterprise that would be pursued.

As part of the validation, the KGVA and the MILALITTRA leadership conducted planning for the enterprise intermediary they would create, and all the preparatory activities and tasks were identified.

Lessons Learned and Recommendations The presence of senior leadership that have been exposed to NGO-PO partnerships, with support from the national and/or local government and higher educational institutes worked to the benefit of both organizations.

The absence of data regarding the enterprises that can serve as a baseline for KGVA and MILALITTRA respectively prevent the organizations a more realistic starting point.

Ensure sufficient appreciation of the dynamics on the ground preceding any activity that will be done onsite.

Be clear about the expectations of stakeholders that may be affected by the activities and tasks for the project.

Communicate with all stakeholders and appreciate perspective, especially where local or indigenous communities are involved.

Openness of the representatives of KGVA and MILALITTRA to the intervention and their willingness to learn helped move the project.

Ways Forward All project activities have been concluded and data gathered from both KGVA and MILALITTRA have been validated with each organization.

Ensuing from the validation, the recommendation for each organization is to identify the stakeholders that will help mentor them in the development of the social enterprise intermediaries as presented to the officers of KGVA, and the officers and members of MILALITTRA, each undertook broad planning of the first two years of the enterprise’s establishment.

Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) Pacifico Ortiz Hall, Fr. Arrupe Road, Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University, Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights 1108 Phone: +63 2 426-6001 ext. 4643 | +63 917-8565-606 Contact Person: Ivyrose S. Baysic, Head, Ateneo Policy Center, ASOG Email: ibaysic@ateneo.edu

Draf t version. For the purpose of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental Partners’ Meeting only. Final version will be uploaded on the Forest Foundation website.