HEIFER INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES- CLAD'S NEW FUNDER

This year was a fortunate year for CLAD, INC since a new funder in the name of Heifer International Philippines has come in to help CLAD's programs to help the marginal farmers in its area of operation. This is in complementation with the DISOP funded project which focused on capability building of this organized associations and cooperatives which has expanded its operation to the northern barangays of the Municipality of Calubian. Heifer's project is focused mainly of providing livestock to selected four hundred families covering eight of the 13 covered barangays under DISOP especifically barangays Ul-og, F.E. Marcos, Petrolio, Tagharigue, Abanilla, Villanueva including Sitio Kabicolan and Garrido. A total of 50 heads of carabao, 50 heads of cow, 150 heads of swine and 300 heads of goat including 600 heads of chicken will be distributed to these 400 identified families to augment their source of income. The incoming project is perceived by CLAD's management to be of great help for their farmer recipients.



The senior staff of CLAD and its front liners such as the Community Organizers and facilitators have been through a series of seminar workshops starting last Nov. 9 until Nov 26, 2011 to prepare them for the Heifer Project Implementation which will be implemented so soon. The seminar includes Cornerstone Workshop, TOT, Self Help Group (SHG) Organization and Project Monitoring and evaluation. Cornerstone workshop will also be conducted to the 400 identified partner families of the Heifer Project by sub-grouping them into 16 SHGs. These cornerstone workshop will be conducted in the month of December and probably will be finished in January of next year. The implementation of this Heifer Project is currently a big challenge for CLAD executive. Goodluck men.

CLAD 4TH ANNIVERSARY AND FAMILY DAY HELD

Last July 17, 2011 CLAD INC had celebrated its 4th Anniversary being a young and only Non-Government Organization operating in the Municipality of Calubian. Simultaneous with the affair is the conduct of the family day which was being celebrated not only by the officers and staff of CLAD but also by the members of the different cooperatives and associations which were organized and assisted by CLAD.

The following day-long activities were conducted; a holy mass which was sponsored by the group, parade around town which was participated by the nine old and four new cooperatives and associations including the five BEC communities which were under the micro-finance group. An opening program was held with Hon. Doroteo N. Palconit, the Municipal Mayor serving as the guest speaker who showed astonishment upon seeing the big crowd who participated the event.






After the festive lunch break, a program called "CLAD GOT TALENT" showcasing the talented members of CLAD Family was held. Different talents were being presented with the talents from Villanueva Credit Cooperative emerged victorious.

Since one of the highlights of the affair was a fund raising raffle promo, every after the presentations tickets were drawn to determine who among the participants were lucky enough to win fabuluous prizes. There were plenty of prizes ranging from five each of the following items; DVD players, cellular phones, rice cookers and desk fans which served as the consolation prizes. The major prizes include washing machine and refrigerator for the third and second prizes, respectively while HONDA XRM 125 motorcycle as the first prize. A member from the Calubian Agri-Products Producers Coop in the person of Mrs Grace Capucao was the luckiest among the participants who went home with her the motorcycle.




After the presentations, everyone shared their time in merrymaking and dancing until the evening engulfed the entire surroundings. The event was really worth remembering and a very successful one.

DISOP PHASE 3 PROJECT APPROVED

The Month of July was considered by the CLAD organizers as the lucky month for CLAD since management of DISOP Philippines announced to the group the approval of the CLAD proposed Phase III project which shall be focused to the development of the northern barangay organizations. This Phase III project has given the Calubian NGO an assurance for funding support from DISOP Belgium for the next three years specifically from 2011-2013.