Sustainable Land Management Initiative Conducted by Misamis University in Barangay Baybay Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) -Technical Assistance Program

Sustainable Land Management Initiative Conducted by Misamis University in Barangay Baybay, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental through the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) -Technical Assistance Program

"Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Through Capability Building Among the Households of Barangay Baybay, Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental" was the second initiative of Misamis University (MU) implemented under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Technical Assistance (TA) Project for Local Resource Institutes (LRIs). It was implemented from October to December 2021 with the aim to promote sustainable land management through sustainable utilization and conservation of soils and water to mitigate land and soil degradation. Among the specific targets of the project were to increase the level of awareness of the residents of Barangay Baybay on sustainable utilization and conservation of soil and water services offered by LGU Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental, strengthen coordination and cooperation among the residents of Barangay Baybay and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bonifacio, and to mobilize at least 50 households of Barangay Baybay to practice composting. Moreover, the project was intended to contribute to the achievement of the 6 th , 13 th , 14 th and 15 th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among the activities that were carried out by Misamis University with the support of DILG-BLGS, LGU Bonifacio through its Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), include the development of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, conduct of lecture series on solid waste management, marine pollution prevention and composting, establishment of communal composting facility, and conduct of Focus Group Discussion (FGD).

The DILG-TA Project for LRIs is a small grant facility developed by the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) of DILG through the Civil Society Organization/Peoples Participation Partnership Program (CSO/PPP) Project Management Office. It aims to maximize the utilization of the Citizen Satisfaction Index System (CSIS) results and strengthen LGUs capacity, along with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Local Resource Institution (LRIs) and other stakeholders, in improving local governance. As an LRI , Misamis University undertook the CSIS Survey in 2019, since MU was eligible for the DILG-TA Project, it was invited to submit a project proposal for the 2021 DILG-TA Project grant. After two stages of evaluation, the project proposal of Misamis University was approved and a partnership agreement was signed by DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año and Misamis University President Dr. Karen Belina F. De Leon.

Together with the LGU of Bonifacio, through its MAO and officials of Barangay Baybay, the Misamis University team lead by Misamis University Community Extension Program (MUCEP) Director Grace V. Villanueva conducted preliminary meetings and ocular inspection of the area prior to the implementation of the series of activities.

IEC materials on composting and land care were developed as part of the undertaking. These include one leaflet, one poster and one billboard. Moreover, a promotional poster for the services of the MAO was also developed. To solicit the community’s opinion and to improve the developed materials, on November 3, 2021, pretesting was conducted in Barangay Migpange – a neighboring coastal barangay with almost the same characteristics with Barangay Baybay. It was participated by the officials, youth representatives and women’s representatives from the said barangay. One-on-one interviews were carried out to pretest the leaflet while Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was conducted to pretest the poster and billboard. Results of the pretesting were then integrated in the finalization of the materials. The leaflets were distributed to the residents of Barangay Baybay while the posters and billboards were handed over to the Barangay Officials of Baybay and the teachers of Baybay Elementary School.

On November 15, 2021, a series of lectures was conducted and was participated by 57 residents of Barangay Baybay which were divided into two batches – 1 batch in the morning and 1 batch in the afternoon. Among the topics discussed during the lecture series were a) Solid Waste Management and b) Water Pollution by Ms. Hanzen D. Tomatao of MUCEP, and c) Composting by Mr. Gether P. Enario of MU-College of Agriculture and Forestry (MU-CAF). Mr. Rovil V. Rodrigo, Municipal Agriculture Officer of Bonifacio, and his staff discussed the services and updates of MAO. Moreover, Honorable Rosario Roble, SB Chair on Agriculture, was also present and urged the participants to protect their soil and water by composting organic wastes. Throughout the activity, the COVID-19 basic health protocols were followed.

Engr. Timoteo B. Bagundol of MU-College of Engineering and Technology (MU-CET) designed a communal composting facility for Barangay Baybay. It was turned over to the officials of the said barangay on November 26, 2021.

On December 10, 2021, an FGD was conducted in Barangay Baybay to initially assess the residents’ awareness on the agricultural services of the LGU as well as their capability and possibility of practicing composting. Representatives from the Barangay Council, women’s association, and other residents of the Baybay participated in the activity. Results of the FGD showed that the residents’ awareness on the agricultural services have improved. Moreover, participants of the FGD claimed that they have enough knowledge and capability in practicing composting and that they will probably practice it.

Aside from the technical and financial assistance of DILG, the support of LGU Bonifacio led by its Local Chief Executive Hon. Samsom R. Dumanjug, was very significant in carrying out the activities of the project. The warm acceptance and participation of the residents of Barangay Baybay has also contributed to the successful implementation of the project.

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