ORIGINAL PLACEMENT CEREMONY OR THE DISTRIBUTION OF LIVESTOCK CONDUCTED

Last June 25 and 26 was the fulfilment of farmers dream when the different livestock were officially distributed during the "Original Placement Ceremony" which was conducted in two different venues, June 25 at Brgy Villanueva and June 26 at Brgy Tagharigue.

At Brgy Villanueva, there were two kinds of animals distributed, the carabaos and goats. There were 100 hundred heads of goats which were distributed to 50 partner families and 28 heads of carabao. In the other venue which was Brgy Tagharigue, 80 heads of goats were distributed to 40 recipients and 15 heads of cow.

The following were parts of the OPC Program; Holy Mass and followed by Blessing of the Gifts by Fr Jessie Sentina and Fr Bedel Mocorro, Introduction of the Guests, Welcome Address by the Brgy Captain, Rationale of OPC by Miss Nieva P Sambas, Project Updates by Mr Agustin L Dignos, Operation Coordinator of CLAD, Presentation of 12 Cornerstones Principles by selected Partner Families. The reading of the Contract was done by Mr John Baring, President and CEO. Messages were given by Mrs Altea Aberia, finance officer of Heifer, Rolando Lunzaga- MAFC Chairman, Hon Lucita Palconit-SB Member and Hon. Doroteo Palconit, Municipal Mayor.

HEIFER SPONSORED PROJECT IMPLEMENTED IN CALUBIAN

Heifer International Philippines, a US-based NGO which is the newest funder of CLAD, Inc in collaboration with DISOP Philippines has recently launched its project in Calubian, Leyte, Philippines. Under the project entitled "Sustainable livelihood enterprises for the marginal farmers in Calubian, Leyte" CLAD, Inc being its implementor in the municipality of Calubian, had been very busy of conducting series of seminars just to prepare identified partner families to receive the different gifts in the form of various livestock. Just for the first quarter of this year, CLAD personnel had been organizing different self-help groups in the following eight major communities such as Brgys Petrolio, Tagharigue, Ul-og, F.E. Marcos, Abanilla, Villanueva, Garrido and Sitio Kabicolan. Simultaneous with organizing these different SHGs, Cornerstones workshops were also conducted to the members of the different SHGs in order for the members to have moral and spiritual preparation.

While the training group was so busy for the social preparation, livestock division had also intensified its procurement activities with the following procurement targets; 50 heads of Carabao, 50 heads of cow, 150 heads of swine and 300 heads of goat. Some of these livestock, probably 50 percent will be distributed during the Original Placement Ceremony (OPC) which is scheduled in June 25 and 26.

Last June 11, HEIFER Executives both coming from the US central office and from the Philippines as well as DISOP Executives had visited Calubian to conduct a pre-evaluation of their joint project. Welcoming them were the members of CLAD implementing team and Department Heads of the LGU. There were powerpoint presentations both by the LGU and CLAD to give visitors updates about the progress of the project.