SSOFHDEV, INC.

Peacebuilding Initiatives in Surigao del Sur has been successful

Through the support of UNMDP-ACT for Peace Programme, peace building initiatives in Surigao del Sur has been successful through its partnership with SSOFHDEV, Inc. The Action for Conflict Transformation (ACT) for Peace Programme has succeeded its initiatives in the hope of installing peace and development intiatives in the five Peace and Development Communities in the Province of Surigao del Sur.

The five PDCs supported by the project has installed and strengthened 12 Community-based People’s Organizations (POs) as a concrete mechanisms that would sustain the initiatives of the project.  These organizations were assisted with technical and financial assistance.  As a result, members of the organizations were capacitated and initiated micro-enterprise initiatives such as Botika ng Barangay (BnB) and Basic Commodities Store.  There were organizations such as the Layog Women’s Organization that has initiated more enterprise initiatives utilizingthe profits generated from the operation of their BnB and Basic Commodities store, specifically the organization is now starting to operate the Copra BuyingThe project has also helped heightened pro-active participation of both the community people and the barangay officials to plan and execute activities that are of significant responses to the issues and concerns of the community people.  Some of the PDCs especially in Barangay Maitom had given their barangay counterpart in the construction of their potable water system.  In Barangay Bolhoon, project partners were very responsive and pro-active in the implementation of their agri-based industry project that is the abaca production.
They were very supportive to the COs facilitation in the implementation of the said project.

Capability building activities of the project strengthened all the assisted community organizations in the aspects of managing and implementing the sub-projects handed over to them by the project.  It prepares the organizations in the establishment of sustained development initiatives and ensures that their members were capacitized and has the opportunity to avail all the services offered by the organization.

The programme at the community level installed mechanisms and created an environment of cooperation and unity among the members of the communities.  The provision of basic social needs through the implementation of projects enlightened the assisted Peace and Development Communities (PDCs) to take care of the opportunities offered by the project.  All the negative apprehensions of the some members of the communities were wiped out after receiving the concrete projects and technical support extended to them.