16/02/2024
๐๐จ-๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐, ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) Philippines - Catanduanes, Catanduanes State University Extension Services (CatSU-ES), Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), and selected farming associations from Bato and Virac, Catanduanes convened for a co-design workshop to create an extension program proposal that primarily aims to improve the economic well-being of selected abaca farming associations from Bato and Virac, Catanduanes. The workshop was held last February 15, 2024 at Queen Maricel Inn.
The workshop's primary objective is the formulation of program proposal for ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ - ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ (๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐) ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ which were attended by faculty extensionists from CatSU Graduate School, CHUMSS, COS, CAF, CIT and the ES Unit. The CARE WEE Project Phase 2 is enabled by the Memorandum of Agreement signed by CARE Philippines - Catanduanes and Catanduanes State University.
The workshop was led by Mrs. Maria Teresa Bayombong, Program Coordinator - Women Economic Justice Program of CARE Philippines. She delivered the rationale for CARE WEE Project Phase 2 and needs, problems, gaps, and opportunities in the abaca industry in Catanduanes.
Meanwhile, the components of the CARE WEE Project Phase 2 is to be proposed for funding from the Tijori Foundation, a foundation based in the United States.
Extension Program Lead and Assistant Vice President, Dr. Joseph Zafe who is concurrently the Graduate School Extension Coordinator, emphasized the socio-emotional aspect of the extension program although the economic impact should be the primary focus along the process of inception stage of the proposal. Meanwhile, the faculty extensionists and the extension services unit staff pledged to their continuous support from extension program formulation to extension program reporting.
Mrs. Mercy V. Francisco, representative of the partner farming association emphasized that she imagined the activity will help design the proposal that covers all corners of the abaca farming community. She expressed her gratefulness to these types of CatSU extension programs in partnership with CARE Philippines - Catanduanes and other stakeholders.
The output of the activity are the extension program proposal and individual PPA proposals by each colleges or units involved which are expected to be written by April 2024. In parallel, CARE Philippines - Catanduanes will write their project proposal to be submitted to Tijori Foundation for funding.
At the end of the activity, the partner communities/abaca farming associations distributed Chocolate Chip Cookies as their token of gratitude to the stakeholders involved in this developmental endeavor. These Chocolate Chip Cookies are products of their CARE WEE Project Phase 1.
Co-Design Workshop is an activity by CARE Philippines - Catanduanes in partnership with CatSU Extension Services, PhilFIDA and abaca farming associations. This activity is CatSU ES' support to SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals.
