CLAD, INC.- A CALUBIAN N.G.O. TURNS FIVE...

Last July 15, the only NGO operating in Calubian has celebrated its fifth year as a registered Non-Government Organization. The Calubian Livelihood Assistance for Development, Inc. was organized with main objective of helping the marginal farmers and fisherfolk in the municipality by capacitating its leaders and members as well as providing them seed money to start their microfinance operation. July 15, a bright sunny Sunday morning was filled with joyous and colorful celebration as the members of the different cooperatives and associations assisted by CLAD, Inc has made their annual appearance as they paraded around the municipality to show their support to the organization's momentous celebration. The celebration started with the Holy Mass which was presided by Fr Bedel Mocorro followed by the parade around town. The police patrol car headed the parade followed by the motorcade of the members of the CLAD Chorale followed by the MSH Drum and Lyre Corp. The following were the arrangements or the order of parade; Following the MSH Drum and Lyre was Petrolio Farmers Multi-purpose Coop, Calubian Agri-Products Producers Cooperative of Tagharigue, Caneja Fishermen Association, Caruyucan Aqua-Marine Ventures Association, Garrido Farmers Association, Inalad Farmers and Fishermen Association, Kabicolan Credit Cooperative, Katilingbanon Multi-purpose Cooperative, BEC Microfinance Group, Nipa Credit Cooperative, Villanueva Elem School Drum and Lyre Corp, Villanueva Credit Cooperative, Sr San Roque Credit Coop of Brgy Ul-og, St. Vincent Credit Cooperative of Brgy Abanilla, Calubian Central Farmers Association of Brgy Villalon, Malobago Farmers Association and Tuburan Farmers Association. The route of the parade started from Church Ground passing Brgy Poblacion, Espinosa, Calbitaza Residence, Garganera, Port Area and to the Gymnasium.

The program proper started with the singing of the Pambansang Awit led by the CLAD Chorale. Introduction of Participants was delivered by Mrs Fe Mapula, CLAD secretary while words of welcome was delivered by Mr. Antonio G. Nierras, operation coordinator of CLAD. The significance of the event and historical background of CLAD was given by Mr Agustin L. Dignos, another operation coordinator of CLAD while the Chief Executive Officer in the person of Mr. John BAring has tackled the issue on CLAD Performance as well as the performance of its assisted associations and cooperatives. Instead of the Chief Executive of the Municipality, Hon Feluchie E. Dang-aoen has delivered her inspirational message to the audience.

After the different speeches, dinner followed and different presentations and raffle of the different prizes were also undertaken. The following were the winners of the major awards of the raffle; 1st prize, Motorcycle- Francis Nel Basister of Bgry Garrido, 2nd prize, Refregirator- Ricardo Gulbe of Brgy Pagatpat and 3rd prize, Megapro DVD Player- Carlos Agumbay of Brgy Veloso. Awarding of the best performing cooperatives and associations were also conducted. The following organizations received the different awards; the Promising New Association was awarded to Calubian Central Farmers Association, Best Performing Association was awarded to Garrido Farmers Association, Most Sustainable Cooperative went to Kabicolan credit Cooperative and the Best Performing Cooperative was awarded to Villanueva Credit Cooperative.

CALUBIAN CHIEF EXECUTIVE- FULL SUPPORT TO CLAD-DISOP-HEIFER PROJECT

The Local Government Unit of Calubian (LGU) through its Chief Executive Hon Doroteo N. Palconit has given full support to a special project implemented in the municipality by the Office of the Municipal Agriculture (OMA). The project is jointly funded by two Non-Government Organizations named DISOP from Belgium and HEIFER USA. The mayor has spearheaded the turn-over of the different livestock to partner-families in the northern barangays of Calubian specifically Brgys. Pagatpat, Tuburan, Kawayanan, Kawayan Bugtong, Garrido, Patag, Villanueva and Sitio Kabicolan. The following are the photo-documentation during the Original Placement Ceremony which was held at the Villanueva Chapel;

(Mr. Agustin L. Dignos, Municipal Agriculturist and Operation Coordinator of CLAD delivered the progress report about the Joint project implementation in Calubian.)

Mrs Altea Aberia Finance Officer of Heifer Philippines has ceromonially turned-over the animals to Hon Doroteo N. Palconit who has been very supportive with the program.

Hon. Palconit and Mr. John Baring, CLAD President and CEO administered the turning over of Livestock to Partner Families. Other pictorials during the ocassion are as follows;

Improvements in Calubian- by Leo Dumon

(The following article was published in West Leyte Weekly Express in its January 16-22, 2012 issue. Pictures are supplemented by the administrator.)

Good things are happening in Calubian, that sleepy municipality in north-western Leyte isolated from the rest of the island by a poor road network. Despite this drawback, the local government unit (LGU) through the able leadership of Mayor Doroteo Palconit is working hard to bring progress to this 4th class town.(Photo shown is Mr Dignos, Mun. Agriculturist, one of the awardee, giving the award was Hon. Palconit assisted by Judge Melchor from Mun. Circuit Trial Court)

For one, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) stamped the LGU with the Seal of Good Housekeeping, making it a recipient of P10.7 million which will be spent for the town's priority projects including the improvement of its water system.

Mayor Palconit is also improving the LGU's services like the opening of a customers' lounge in the town hall to help clients finish their transactions as soon as possible so they no longer have to come back. He is also looking for an information technology provider to computerize their services in compliance with the DILG's directive.(Photo shown are all the LGU Calubian awardee headed by Hon Doroteo Palconit who received the Seal of Good Housekeeping).

Mayor Palconit thanks other government officials for helping his town like Gov. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla who pledged a farm-to-market road project and 3rd Dist. Rep. Andres Salvacion who promised to repair their gymnasium and build a building for the Liga ng mga Barangay.

SERIES OF TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION FOR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION WILL BE CONDUCTED THIS YEAR

After the technology demonstration or simply techno-demo at Brgy Villanueva has culminated last December 20, 2011, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist of the LGU Calubian in collaboration with CLAD, Inc., a NGO operating in the municipality will also be conducting a series of techno-demo for vegetable production this year. The first semester of this year, this techno-demo will simultaneously be conducted in two different strategic locations which will be at Brgy Casiongan which is the northern most part of the municipality while the other site will be at Brgy Villahermosa. Members of the Casiongan Farmers Association and the farmers of the neighboring barangays of Jubay, Pal-og, Laray, Dalumpines and even Brgy Caruyucan will be the target participants at Brgy Casiongan Techno-demo while members of the Garrido Farmers Association as the target participants at Brgy Villahermosa. For the second semester, the group planned to conduct the same techno-demo at Brgy Petrolio with members of the Petrolio Farmers Multi-purpose Coop as the target participants.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION-Another First in Calubian History

Christmas is over as we celebrated the Feast of the Three Kings. But as the season passed by, Calubianons will never forget the experienced brought about by season as every sector, government and private entities had joined hand in hand to make the celebration a memorable as it is. Influenced by ideas spearheaded by the Local Chief Executive Hon. Dodong Palconit to mobilize all the sectors to come up with a plan for a better and colorful Christmas celebration. The lighting of the streets of the entire Metro Calubian and the extravagant decorations of the Municipal plaza and the Municipal Ground at the Veloso hill has made the occasion very special, and perhaps another first during Mayor Palconit's administration. Calubianons, young and old, were very excited as the switching of Christmas lights were done simultaneously in all areas last November 29, 2011. After the switching ceremony, the enthusiasts were very eager to see the lights in all the venues. It was really a great and memorable expereince for Calubianons to see such christmas decorations.