Sixty-five representatives from networks of rural NGOs and people’s organizations from nine countries in Southeast and East Asia gathered in Cagayan de Oro City from June 28 to July to participate in the 3rd Regional Training Workshop under the project entitled: “Linking Small Farmers to Market.” Participating countries include, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Philippines. The event was organized by AsiaDHRRA in partnership with PhilDHRRA with funding support from the ASEAN Foundation.

PhilDHRRA, the in-country anchor for LSFM in the Philippines, hosted the event and provided a festive welcome dinner on the evening of day one, featuring a traditional Manobo dance number performed by selected students of the Bayanga National Highschool of Cagayan de Oro City. Ms. Rachel Polestico, Northern Mindanao Cluster member, was the master of ceremony assisted by Mr. Luther Labitad, SEARSOLIN staff (more…)

The network through the secretariat convened two regular cluster meetings on April 22nd in Davao and April 29th in Zamboanga early this year.  The meeting cum fellowship was part of the mandate of the network in strengthening its cluster membership and development support to members. The network recognizes that operationalizing the membership in geographic clusters is a key mechanism for members’ participation in defining and pursuing network priorities and thrust for the development of Mindanao. (more…)

The MOFECO Cooperative Training Center was newly renovated early this year. The renovation was financially supported by COOP NATCCO party list amounting to P400,000.00. Said amount was a reward to MOFECO awarded by COOP NATCCO in gratitude of its unwavering support and active involvement in the electoral campaign of COOP NATCCO party list in the province of Misamis Occidental in the last election. (more…)

The Philippine Partnership for the Development of Human resources in Rural Areas (PhilDHRRA-Mindanao) in partnership with Lutheran World Relief, Foundation for the Philippine Environment, World Bank Philippines, Peace and Equity Foundation, and SuCCEED Inc. convened the Mindanao Conference on Climate Change and Development on June 10-12, 2009 at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao City.

The conference was aimed at promoting a fluid exchange of ideas and knowledge on Global Warming between civil society organizations, local government units, private sectors and donor agencies operating in different areas of Mindanao and working on community development, poverty alleviation and environmental protection programs. It also aimed at providing a stimulating frame for comparing acquired knowledge and information, and for discussing intimately what is Climate Change, how serious are its impact, what are global and local responses for its mitigation and adaptation, and how will it relate to issues that can enrich or bring to the new level the practice of social development work. (more…)

As a response to the government calls for transparency and accountability, the CODE-NGO through the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), hosted a regional forum entitled “Enhancing CSOs Understanding and Participation in the DA Budget Processes” on February 24, 2009 in partnership with the Department of Agriculture in Region 11 at MTRC in Davao City.

A total of 30 participants coming from the Civil Society Organizations and DA Regional Staff and City Personnel fully occupied the MTRC venue.  Six representatives from four member NGOs of PHILDHRRA Mindanao-Davao Cluster actively participated in the forum. These member NGOs were: KAPWA Upliftment, Mainland Development Center (MDC), Josefa Segovia Foundation (JSFI) and Institute of Primary Health Care (IPHC). (more…)