Rehabilitation of Open Pit Mines in Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet
For the month of January -June 2019
BACKGROUND
The Rehabilitation Program of the abandoned mines in Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet was made possible through the strong support of the WE 21 Japan. The Shontoug Foundation prepared socially the community members to implement the project by clarifying the purpose of the project. The project has been implemented with the strong support of the Municipal and Barangay Local Government Units, the Provincial Natural Environment Resources Office and the Department of Agriculture (MAO) and the moral support of the church.
The main goal of the project is “rehabilitated formerly abandoned mining area suited to provide a source of livelihood to Lubo community”. With this goal presented to the Barangay and Municipal officials and some community members, respective support was committed to the proposed plan of activities for their environmental development. The people are willing to rehabilitate their land destroyed by the mines and are grateful to the initiative of the Shontoug Foundation that started to encourage them to support the nursery establishment in the Village.
Over all Goal: Rehabilitated formerly abandoned mining area suited to provide a source of livelihood to Lubo community.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS BASED ON OBJECTIVES
1. To rehabilitate formerly abandoned mining site through the initiative of an empowered and enabled community members of Lubo.
2. To sustain the capabilities of Lubo Proper Rehab Organization (LPRO) in the management of their organization and rehabilitation efforts at the open pit area.
3. To strengthen good working relationship with target community project partners and gain their support and commitment to the currently implemented projects.
4. To enhance the financial sustainability of People’s Organizaton (PO) project partners through social enterprise as a resource generation mechanism for the continuity of the project after completion.
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet
For the month of January -June 2019
BACKGROUND
The Rehabilitation Program of the abandoned mines in Lubo, Kibungan, Benguet was made possible through the strong support of the WE 21 Japan. The Shontoug Foundation prepared socially the community members to implement the project by clarifying the purpose of the project. The project has been implemented with the strong support of the Municipal and Barangay Local Government Units, the Provincial Natural Environment Resources Office and the Department of Agriculture (MAO) and the moral support of the church.
The main goal of the project is “rehabilitated formerly abandoned mining area suited to provide a source of livelihood to Lubo community”. With this goal presented to the Barangay and Municipal officials and some community members, respective support was committed to the proposed plan of activities for their environmental development. The people are willing to rehabilitate their land destroyed by the mines and are grateful to the initiative of the Shontoug Foundation that started to encourage them to support the nursery establishment in the Village.
Over all Goal: Rehabilitated formerly abandoned mining area suited to provide a source of livelihood to Lubo community.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS BASED ON OBJECTIVES
1. To rehabilitate formerly abandoned mining site through the initiative of an empowered and enabled community members of Lubo.
- Six meetings had been conducted from January to June 2019. As a result of the meetings conducted, the Lubo Proper Rehab Organization (LPRO) identified their needs and submitted the Activity Plan to the Shontoug staff which was submitted to WE 21 regarding their proposed activities for April 2019- March 2020.
- The Lubo Proper Rehab Organization (LPRO) conducted Assembly last April 10, 2019 with the presence of stakeholders. The Lubo Proper Rehab Organization (LPRO) President presented their accomplishments conducted for one year. They reported also that the WE 21 representatives visited Lubo last January 26- 30, 2019. Shontoug staff also presented to the Assembly that their proposal for rehabilitation activity was submitted to WE 21 and it was approved. It was presented that the main activities of the association for this year are tree planting activity, develop another Japan-developed Ashio Model area, Environmental Forum, Training on Organic Farming, DRRM updating training and Nursery Management activities.
- The LPRO members were also benefited through the provision of the seeds and compost accessed from the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) and majority of the farmers accessed the relief composed of seeds planted to their backfilled area. It was advised that most of the farmers who accessed the relief should practice organic farming and it was followed by the recipients. It was coordinated with the Municipal Agriculture Office to conduct Organic Farming training and it was conducted last May 15-16, 2019. There were 30 farmers who attended the training. The farmers were also trained to make compost for their organic farm which was conducted last June 6-7, 2019. There are 40 farmers who attended the actual making of compost which was facilitated by the Municipal Agriculture Officer and Shontoug staff.
2. To sustain the capabilities of Lubo Proper Rehab Organization (LPRO) in the management of their organization and rehabilitation efforts at the open pit area.
- The Lubo Proper Rehab Organization has sustained to manage their organization. They regularly conducted their monthly meeting for the updating of their environment activities and the management of their livelihood. Through their meetings conducted, the members and officers of the organization change the name of their organization into Barangay Lubo Environment Organization (BLEO) as suggested by the majority of their member because not only sitio Proper Lubo who participated in the rehabilitation activities but some sitios are also joining the activity of the group. They focus only on rehabilitation because rehabilitation is part of protecting environment. “Environment” is used in the name of their organization scope of activities is expanding. They don’t focus only on rehabilitation but they were oriented also on Organic Agriculture, Waste Management, Agro-Forestry, Fishery Management, tree planting and other environmental protection activities that support efforts on water and soil conservation.
- The Barangay Lubo Environment organization (BLOE) officers managed also to coordinate the project activities with the officers of the concerned line agencies that support the program like BLGU, Municipal Agriculture Officer and the PENRO.
- Environmental Forum was also conducted in the barangay last January 28,2019 facilitated by the Provincial Environment Officer, Mr. Kollin and his staff, Mr. Fernando Siadto. The Forum was attended also by the WE 21 Japan representatives including their Forester, Mr. Nagasaki. Through Environmental Forum activities, the participants enhanced their knowledge on environmental laws, on protection of trees particularly pine trees and they were also lectured on Waste Management R.A 9003. The PENRO, Mr Kollin appreciated the efforts of the community about the IEC they posted for the awareness of community members about the protection of environment. He advised the community members to sustain planting of trees and avoid expanding their sayote farm.
3. To strengthen good working relationship with target community project partners and gain their support and commitment to the currently implemented projects.
- The Multi-stakeholders meetings were conducted last January 27, and March 20,2019. The agencies that support the Rehabilitation project are the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU), Municipal Local Govenrment Unit (MLGU) through Municipal Environment Natural Resource Office (MENRO) office, PLGU through Provincial Environment Natural Resource Office (PENRO), Water and Watershed Resources Research Center (WWRRC) and other community-based CSOs. Through the meetings conducted, the agencies committed to support technically the planned activities for 2019 for the rehabilitation projects. The staff openly shared to the line agencies that the WE 21 supports few activities for the project for their information.
- Coordination with Department of Agriculture (DA) was made and they were updated about the Rehabilitation activities conducted especially back filling activities for the agricultural purposes of land owners. The Municipal Agriculture Officer openly shared that they don’t have budget for 2019 about the needs of farmers in Lubo but they support technically and tried to source out equipment for the composting processing of farmers.
- The staff regularly attended the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) meetings for updating reports and coordinate the rehabilitation activities. The Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) strongly support and participated in the activities conducted.
- The community members sustained their Bayanihan System especially for community development. Some religiously attend their mass every Sunday. The lay leaders facilitate the BEC sessions especially during Holy Week. They also conducted station of the cross at their Mount Calvary with the Catholic community members. The Lay leaders visited also their sick members and pray together for the fast recovery of sick person.
4. To enhance the financial sustainability of People’s Organizaton (PO) project partners through social enterprise as a resource generation mechanism for the continuity of the project after completion.
- The LPRO sustain their fund sourcing activity and they were able to collect P25,000.0 as Trust Fund for their livelihood activities like selling ginger tea and roasted coffee and donations of Japanese exposure in the area.
