The training, sponsored by the Asian Womens Network on Gender and Development (AWNGAD) in cooperation with Ugnayan ng Kababaihan sa Pulitika (Philippine Womens Networks in Politics and Governance), gathers some 60 representatives of government agencies and NGOs from the Philippines to try out a new initiative to developing partnerships with national and international organizations. The training held in Thailand is the first leg of a journey to such partnership in sustainable development. The next training, involving business councils will be held in Malaysia and Singapore.
Quickly noticed in Comval is the involvement of women in economic activities. They raise vegetables, chicken and pigs, an occasional cow, and tilapia and hito in small ponds in their yards. Thus, the women are meeting the nutritional needs of their families as well as selling surpluses for additional income.
The men most of them farmers on the other hand, are given support by the local government in terms of loans without interest, free seeds and training on modern agriculture practices. As a result, Gov. Caballero says, there is a noticeable improvement in the lives of his constituents.
The training, inputs and interest-free loans (which he said liberate the poor from usurious money-lenders) did help the menfolk. Giving the women the opportunity to raise hogs and fish gave them more income as well as a healthy sense of being active participants in the development of their new province.
To sustain the livelihood and agricultural activities of the townsfolk, Jose set aside 97 hectares of land in Barangay Pasian in the Municipality of Moncayo where vegetables and fruits are grown.
Early in his first term (he is now into his second term as governor), Joe had solar dryers built in 200 barangays which increased the efficiency of corn and rice-drying by farmers nearly 100 percent. With efficient productivity, Joe sees his province becoming self-sufficient, and "the fruit basket" of Mindanao as a result of more than 2000 fruit-trees being grown.
The success of his development programs Joe credits to the commitment of his wife, and members of the womens council. Altogether there are 50,000 card-bearing council members who are planting trees on the highways, and cleaning and greening the eight municipalities streets.
Joe says investors can be attracted to locate in Comval because of the presence of such multinational agricultural giants in the province such as Dole, Philippines, Marsman-Drysdale, Dizon Farms and Standphil. He envisions a successful eco-tourism industry because of the preponderace of waterfalls and fine beaches.
Now there stands a spanking-new capitolyo at the cost of P40 million. Up for bidding is an athletic-cultural astrodome.
Things are looking up for Joe, and Comval, the land of waterfalls and future "fruit basket" of the land of promise.