Trips

I just arrived from Magsaysay and Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental after 2 days of MRDP travel. MRDP or the Mindanao Rural Development Program is a targeted poverty reduction program of the Department of Agriculture and the World Bank for the rural poor, women and indigenous communities of Mindanao. Fund sources of the program come from a loan from the World Bank by the Government of the Philippines but the projects of the program are availed only by the people of Mindanao. The projects funded by MRDP are rural infrastructure, community livelihood and natural resource management.

I used to feel nonchalant about the program because I felt it is just one of the many programs of the government that will leave no impact on the lives of the people it hopes to serve. But I've changed my views bout it last February when I got to personally talk with one of the beneficiaries at Linamon, Lanao del Norte. The women's association is a recipient of the CFAD or Community Find for Agri Development. They were given funds to establish their own broiler production project to increase their income and help other members of the association who were without means to support themselves. The broiler chicks were thriving so well under the care of the women that Magnolia offered the association a chance to be one of their contract growers. The project not only gave the women additional income but also boosted their confidence to take on a business venture. There are others like the women that were also greatly helped by the program and I've meet some of them and heard their stories.

I guess when you are in government like me, you tend to be cynical of the programs because of previous failed experiences. This time, the MRDP would like to instill a culture of "NO FAILURE BUT ONLY SUCCESS" among the beneficiaries so that they can improve their lives and others and grow even without the support of the government.