PHILIPPINE UPLANDS RESOURCE CENTER
Project Director: Alma Bella L. Zerrudo (Coordinator)
Funding Agency: PUMP/The Ford Foundation
Operational in July 1986, the Philippine Uplands Resource Center (PURC) aimed to: a) undertake a systematic collection and classification of materials on the uplands as well as identification of their location; b) utilize the collection for university level instructional materials, issue identification, policy and program formulation for research, seminars and workshops; and c) organize and participate in networking with institutions and groups devoted to the welfare of disadvantaged groups in the uplands.
Forming the consortium for the realization of its objectives were four founding member institutions: DLSU-RC, the Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) of Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines System through the Department of Social Forestry (DSF) of the College of Forestry and Program on Environmental Science and Management (PESAM), and the Bureau of Forest Development (BFD) of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Among PURC’s accomplishments were setting up the physical structure and facilities of the DLSU-based PURC library, systematizing the PURC collection, dissemination of a PURC brochure, publication of a quarterly newsletter, publication and distribution of a sourcebook of organizations and people in Upland Development in the Philippines, processing of the project proposal in a monthly PURC library bulletin, and processing of the project proposal through an information network for the expansion of institutional membership and the PURC library collection.
Key words: Philippine uplands, materials collection and classification, university level instructional materials, institutional networking, disadvantaged groups
MANGYAN APPROPRIATE SCHOOL:
A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPERIMENT (PHASE 2)
Project Director: Carmelita Quebengco (Education Component) and Zenaida Sierra
Funding Agency: Participatory Uplands Management Program/The Ford Foundation
During this phase of the project, the school increased its offerings from one grade level to give grade levels with a total enrollment of 166 pupils. Through an innovative curriculum and culturally-appropriate instructional materials, the students developed literacy and numeracy skills, better health habits, farming skills, and an appreciation for their indigenous culture. The community initiated maintenance of a school farm that was also used by the students for their agriculture subject. Supervision of the agriculture component was conducted through the Institute of Environmental Science and Management of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños.
Mangyan leaders assumed greater responsibilities in setting admission policies, resolving school-related community problems, and generating funds for the school’s buildings and facilities.
Key words: Hanunuo Mangyan, culturally appropriate education, indigenous culture
AN EVALUATION OF THE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PROJECT
IN CEBU
Project Director: Divina Edralin and Anselmo Lupdag
Funding Agency: World Neighbors, Inc./ PUMP 3 (The Ford Foundation)
The World Neighbors-assisted Cebu Soil and Water Conservation project was initiated in response to the continuing environmental degradation in Cebu. Its main goals were to reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and increase crop yield and family income. To test the effectiveness of its strategies, three pilot sites were chosen with the assistance of the Bureau of Forest Development: Argao and Guba, which were selected in mid-1981, and Pinamungajan which was added in 1983.
The main thrusts of the study were determining how the communities and the farmers in the sites have been affected by the program of the World Neighbors and what factors have significantly contributed to farmers’ present status, given the different inputs from WNI. It also served as a follow-up to an initial evaluation assessment made on the three project sites in March 1985 after several years of project implementation, particularly for Guba and Argao.
The six-month study utilized the combination of a case study on the historical development of the project sites and a survey of the effects of the program on the upland farmers.
Key words: World Neighbors, Cebu Soil and Water Conservation project, environmental degradation, soil fertility, crop yield increase, family income
THE CONCEPT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE PHILIPPINE VALUE SYSTEM
Project Director: Virgilio Enriquez
Funding Agency: Department of Local Governance
This project reviewed and analyzed the Filipino concept of social justice and the value systems related to it. It utilized Sikolohiyang Pilipino, an approach that recognizes the role and significance of the use of indigenous language in social science research.
The study noted that hiya, utang na loob, and pakikisama were better viewed as surface values—readily apparent attributes appreciated and exhibited by many Filipinos. It emphasized that the triad resulted from kapwa, the actual core value of the Filipino personality.
Other elements of justice from the people’s kapwa-centered value system were also noted: kalayaan, karangalan, kagandahang-loob, karapatan, katotohanan, and katarungan. These factors were found to pertain more to justice in terms of dispute resolution than the concept of social justice in general.
Key words: social justice, value systems, indigenous language, social science research, Filipino personality
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