UCIDS, UPLB Spearhead Community Development Program

Valencia is one lucky town in Negros Oriental. It has been chosen as the model for a comprehensive development and education project being collaboratively implemented by the Municipality of Valencia; by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS); Division of Schools of Negros Oriental; the Literacy Coordinating Council of the Philippines (LCCP); and, the University of the Philippines.

The project, which is known as the Comprehensive Education and Community Development Program of Valencia, Negros Oriental, is a direct offshoot of a resolution passed during the First National Literacy Congress organized by the LCCP on September 7-8, 1995 which provided for the deputization of existing Local School Boards and the expansion of their composition so that they could serve as the de facto municipality/city committees on Education for All.

This project is the first of its kind in the country and is designed to respond to all the educational needs of the municipality by articulating all education and training programs and linking these to municipal development plans and programs.

The project has already undergone Phase I which consisted of several activities. Last September 30, 1995, the composition of the Local School Board was expanded to include the Municipal Planning and Development Officer, heads of the devoted agencies, representatives from different sectors, barangay captains, the district supervisor, and the formal school principals.

On October 16 of the same year, the program was formally launched with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the municipality, DECS, LCCP and UP. Between October 22nd-31st, a rapid community assessment (RCA) was conducted by a team from the UP Education Research Program (ERP) under the University Center for Integrative and Development Studies. The RCA produced community profiles of the 24 barangays through a communtiy seminars with the 24 barangay captains and local researchers and general assemblies per barangay. The barangay captains followed. A planning conference was then conducted to identify the appropriate organizational structure for the first crucial year of the program and to finalize the community development projects to be undertaken.

The project is now Phase II, the implementation phase. Activities under the phase include custom plowing and carabao dispersal, trading and marketing, eco-tourism development, agricultural and livelihood development, setting-up of an I.D. system and social services, barangay center development, establishment of a community resource and training center, cooperative development, and special education classes. A municipality-wide survey of all households is being undertaken by the UP-ERP team to generate information necessary for the effective and efficient implementation of the program.

In February of this year, the Municipal Government of Valencia, represented by Mayor Edgar Y. Teves, and the UP, represented by UP President Emil Q. Javier through Dr. Randy Hautea, director of the Institute of Plant Breeding of the UPLB College of Agriculture, signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the �Technical Assistance in Agriculture for Valencia� project. This agreement calls for the establishment of a Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, development of Seed Support Systems for Priority Crops in Valencia, and on-farm trials of improved and high-value crops.

The success of the project depends a lot on the people themselves. After all, they are direct participants in the community development projects. The project is expected to raise their capacity to manage their own programs and thereby contribute to their own empowerment. With the successful implementation of this project, Valencia, a fourth class municipality, can look forward to becoming first class in no time.

by Ma. Christine Z. Falguera