The Pride and Joy of the Bacoeños of Oriental Mindoro
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1 E-KWENTO SEPTEMBER 2020 Sitio Lagunlong Community Development Organization: The Pride and Joy of the Bacoeños of Oriental Mindoro Sitio Lagunlong Community Development Organization here was never a clear-cut path in reaching one’s dream. No one has gone down the same road and no one has experienced the exact same things. But one thing has always been certain to those who have achieved their dreams – pressing forward will not always be easy but it will always be worth it. This has been true for the people T of the remote Sitio Lagunlong in Barangay Water, Baco, Oriental Mindoro. Indigenous Mangyans have long resided on Mount Halcon in the town of Baco – home of 40,000 people where only a few were privileged enough to graduate in college and most of whom are jobless and have no stable source of income. No one will ever think that this town will amount to something big until one person dared to dream not just for himself, but also for his community. It all started with a small dream for Mr. Jordan Fajardo, Chairperson and Founder of Sitio Lagunlong Community Development Organization (SLCDO). He established SLCDO on February 5, 2014 as a microfinance institution with 20 members to help people in the community make ends meet and run their micro businesses. “Nagsimula kasi talaga siya sa isang pangarap. Na itong komunidad na ito ay magkaroon ng isang asosasyon na kumbaga, magiging kaagapay ng mga mamamayan sa community para mag giya doon sa pag-unlad ng kabuhayan ng bawat miyembro at magkaroon sila ng pagkakakitaan.” Mr. Fajardo saw the dream, dedication, and discipline of their members as the group observes a 100% repayment rate every month. With this, he knew that SLCDO has the capacity to be Mr. Jordan Fajardo more than just a microfinance organization. SLCDO Chairperson and Founder The organization has seen a steady growth on the number of its members and by April 5, 2015, their membership reached 287. On September 19, 2015, with a meek capital of ₱5,000.00, SLCDO started the Bacoeñas Food Processing to manufacture banana chips. Food processors in the company were residents of Barangay Water and most of them are farmers’ wives and unemployed women. The food processing company sources its bananas from the Mangyans – paying for the indigenous peoples’ crop for what it’s worth and enhancing their income. “Yung pinagbentahan ng aming saging, sa halip na ₱500.00, ang abot [ng benta] namin ay ₱200.00. Ngayon po pagdating nung Mr. Jimmy Paglagayan samahan ay ₱500.00 din po ang matatanggap naming bilang”, shared by Mangyan Community Leader Jimmy Paglagayan, a Mangyan Community Leader. Circumstances in life will not always be favorable and obstacles are inevitable to those who take the courage to chase their dreams. As the organization was just about to enjoy the fruits of their labor, Typhoon Nona ravaged Oriental Mindoro in 2015 – leaving their crops severely beaten, properties thoroughly destroyed, and members robbed of their livelihood. SLCDO’s recovery from the devastation has not been easy. When they have just gotten the strength to get back up, Typhoon Nina in 2016 wreaked havoc in the province – leaving their business bankrupt and crushed beyond repair. Mr. Fajardo, sharing what they went through said, “Nasira yung aming gawaan, yung mga saging namin, hindi namin ma-market ngayon kasi wala ka naman talagang pagdadalhan sa Mindoro that time. So yun yung mga naging hamon sa amin, kung paano pa talaga namin siya maiibangon.” 2 E-KWENTO SEPTEMBER 2020 However, the tempests that have tried to sweep them only strengthened their resolve. SLCDO knew that tough times do not last forever but tough people do. The group seized the opportunity to regain from their downfall when assistance from different government agencies came pouring in. Aside from conducting trainings on productivity, safety and health, and business management and continuous assistance in product marketing and production, on September 17, 2017, the DOLE Oriental Mindoro Field Office granted a livelihood enhancement assistance to SLCDO in the amount of ₱822,894.00. The amount was used to procure machineries, equipment, and working capital to enhance the production of banana chips. “Nagbago po ang aming mga buhay. Na-experience po namin Ms. Carmela Alday SLCDO Production Manager na mag-seminar, mag-meeting sa iba’t ibang mga bayan at lugar para po ma-enhance yung aming skills”, Carmela Alday, Production Manager of SLCDO, mentioned. By the end of 2018, SLCDO’s total assets have already amounted to ₱4,638,648.49 and as of December 2019, the group’s net income is ₱251,798.00. Today, Bacoeñas Food Processing has secured the livelihood of 50 Mangyans (banana suppliers), 45 regular and job order senior citizens, out-of-school youth, and women (general manager, quality control officer, sales and marketing officer, production manager, cooks, slicers, peelers, re-packers and sealers), and 10 dealers from the youth sector. The 45 regular and job order workers of the food processing center receive a daily remuneration of ₱200.00 – 300.00 and all of the workers are given insurance coverage. Apart from generating employment and expanding and sustaining the livelihood project in the community, SLCDO has also garnered multiple awards and citations from different government agencies. They have been recognized as best credit manager, champions of community development, and promising organization, among others. On top of these accolades, SLCDO was hailed as the Best DOLE Livelihood Assisted Project in MIMAROPA on August 5, 2020. During his speech in the awarding ceremony held at the Baco Municipal Hall, Mr. Fajardo has touched the hearts of many through his inspiring words, “Sabi ko nga po, when you’re a leader, you should expect the worst, not the best. Pero po ang lahat ng mga pagsubok at lahat ng mga suliranin na makakaharap mo along the way, diyan ka susukatin kung gaano ka katatag. Nandiyan yung huhubog sa’yo na dapat mong paghandaan. Nung una po kaming nagtayo ng processing center, nandun po yung unang objective namin, katuwang po ang DOLE, kasama po sa objectives namin ang magbigay ng trabaho…Kami po ay magtatrabaho para po sa kapakanan ng aming barangay. Magbibigay ng inspirasyon sa mga karatig barangay at sa mga asosasyong nangangarap at gustong maging matibay at matatag. Dahil talaga pong sa isang organisasyon, ang isang napakabigat po na kailangan mong i-attain ay ang sustainability.” Currently, the organization supplies the ₱65.00 banana chips to Infinity Farm, the biggest natural resort in Baco. In the near future, they aspire to penetrate bigger markets, generate more employment, and pay for social security benefits of their members. EDITORIAL BOARD Chairperson: Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla Editor-in-Chief: Content: SLCDO representatives with DOLE MIMAROPA personnel during the awarding of Best DOLE Livelihood-Assisted Project SLCDO is a community of people who value each of its member and harness everyone’s ability to contribute to development. They have turned their obstacles as opportunities for revival and growth. Undeniably, they have become a beacon of hope and a source of 8404-3336, 8527-5856, 8527-3097 Telefax: 8527-5858 inspiration for the people of a community who have not been given [email protected] much yet have exerted a lot in order to have a better life. www.bwsc.dole.gov.ph http://www.facebook.com/bwsc.dole Truly, SLCDO has become the pride and joy of Baco, Oriental Mindoro. Their story of resiliency is for those who dream – for those who are not afraid to turn their dreams into reality. .