CLERGY EXPOSURE PROGRAM CATERS CLERGY FROM THE DIOCESE OF MOBUCA

by: Venyljoy Sugala and Analie Tandog

IFI-VIMROD once again catered a three-day exposure program for another batch of clergy, this time coming from the Diocese of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon and Camiguin (MOBUCA). Nine priests were exposed to the community of the peasant partner organizations in the Diocese of Cebu and Bohol.

The exposure program is incorporated in the partnership forged between the Diocese of MOBUCA and IFI VIMROD. The general objective of the exposure program is to promote the development initiatives of IFI-VIMROD and its peasant partner organizations. Through this activity, IFI’s Development Framework, of which VIMROD is one of its expressions, is promoted hoping that the Clergy of MOBUCA shall understand and appreciate it.

The Right Rev. Felixberto L. Calang, Diocesan Bishop of MOBUCA, and the Executive Director of IFI-VIMROD designed the particular objectives of the exposure program. The first two days of the exposure were allotted for inputs/discussions on IFI-VIMROD Development programs. Also included are the processes and methods used by IFI-VIMROD in conducting Participatory Data Gathering (PDG) activities in the communities it is serving. Some of the sub-topics in the PDG are the Seasonal Calendar, Problem Tree Analysis, Spot Mapping, Community Profiling and the Historical Timeline. Also, the participants were able to watch the IFI-VIMROD’s video documentation on the EED-funded water project in Barangay Manga, Alcantara, Cebu and the Clergy Exposure Program of the Diocese of Surigao to same area in 2007. The said Barangay is also the destination for the participants’ area visit on the third day.



From theory to practice

In the early morning of the third day, the participants together with the Staff of IFI-VIMROD travelled for three hours from the city to Alcantara, Cebu with its aim: to witness the real life experiences of the members of the peasant organization as responsible partners to the development programs of IFI-VIMROD.

The group first met Mayor Benjamin Lobitaña of Alcantara for coordination and had a brief exchange with him about the current municipal development. From the municipal hall, the group took a 16-kilometer trip to Barangay Manga where the NAMAMA members (Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Barangay Manga) are waiting.

NAMAMA is the first KKK (Kahugpungan sa Katawhan alang sa Kalambuan) established by IFI-VIMROD in 2003. This KKK has more than a hundred members and is now managing small-projects like Sustainable Agriculture, Hog-fattening and Marketing and the Water Project of the EED. It is also one of the five KKK members of the Pederasyon sa Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma ug Mangingisda sa Alcantara (PENAMMA), a federation of KKKs in Alcantara, Cebu.

The officers and members of NAMAMA prepared the entire flow of the program of the area visit. The highlight of the program was the sharing of experiences between the clergy participants and the members of NAMAMA. The officers gave an over-view of the life of their organization. They share to the Clergy how their participatory management styles generated positive results and impacts to their family, organization and community. Collective discussions on issues, they shared, were venue for them to make the common interest and welfare more important than that of their personal desire. They shared to the Clergy how the positive effects brought about by the proper management of their organization and their projects encourage others to join their organization thus, increasing the numbers of membership of NAMAMA. They also shared how the development education provided to them enhanced their knowledge, skills and attitude in dealing with other members of the organization and in attending to their individual income-generating projects. This development, according to them was purely attributed to their being member of the organization.

The evaluation of the 3-day activity, took place also on the third day following the area visit. The participants shared their insights and reflections on the Clergy Exposure Program. They also gave some recommendations to further improve the program. Common ideas shared were: 1) the need to incorporate in the Seminary Curriculum the development framework of IFI with VIMROD as one of its expressions; 2) intensive dissemination/popularization of the development initiatives of IFI-VIMROD to the Dioceses; and 3) the need to provide the parishes with training modules on community development work as materials for their development education.



In particular, the clergy also observed that the IFI Development Framework with VIMROD as one of its expressions is a helpful guide in the efforts of the MOBUCA Diocese on their CASMER (Commission on Advocacy, Social Ministry, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations) Program. They are resolved that the IFI-Development Framework being promoted and practiced by IFI-VIMROD should be part of the advocacy being promoted by CASMER because the Integrated Development Program of IFI-VIMROD really helps the people in the ground. As Rev. Fr. Isabelo S. Igloria of the Parish of St. Matthew the Apostle& Evangelist put it, “there is really a need for IFI-VIMROD to further sustain and extend the sustainable agricultural program on natural farming technology to help farmers in doing-away with expensive commercial farm inputs. At the same time, development education enhanced the critical awareness of the members of the organization and makes them responsible to further develop their organization and manage their projects.”