SECOND PHASE OF DISOP PROJECT IN CALUBIAN ON THE GO!!!

The project entitled "Capability building and development of agricultural and coastal associations in Calubian, Province of Leyte" is on its second phase and is now under the implementation and management of CLAD, Inc. The project which focused originally to the five BEC Communities which were converted into cooperatives which include the communities in the following barangays; Nipa, Ul-og, F.E. Marcos, Villanueva including its Sitio Kabicolan has now widened its horizon and expanded its coverage to include the existing Petrolio Farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative (PET-FA MPC) of Brgy Petrolio and the cooperatives namely Garrido Multipurpose Cooperative of Brgy Garrido, St. Vincent Credit Cooperative of Brgy Abanilla and the Calubian Agri-Products Producers Association/Cooperative of Brgy Tagharigue.

Under CLAD's management, DISOP loan assistance is not anymore exclusive to BEC members only. Since membership of cooperatives is non-sectarian and is open to any person regardless of religion and its political affiliation, CLAD management had also widened its coverage of extending DISOP funds to the general membership of the cooperative. Does providing equal opportunities to every marginal farmers and fisherfolks to develop their own livelihood enterprise.

There are several enterprises that members of the different cooperatives had ventured ranging from sari-sari store, hog raising, fishing and farming among others. One of the sector which has been given due consideration by CLAD management and with a considerable support extended by the Local Government Unit of Calubian through its Local Chief Executive Hon. Hazel Po was the High Valued Commercial Crop or simply the Vegetable Commercialization. One of the cooperative which has been a recipient of LGU's assistance was the Calibuan Agri-Products Producers Cooperative of Brgy Tagharigue (see photo above showing the officers and members of the cooperative during its General Assembly Meeting in February this year). Last year, CLAD with LGU assitance had conducted a Season-Long Seminar/Training on Vegetable Commercialization which culminated on July 17 of 2008 marking the first year anniversary of CLAD's existence.