July 4, 2010

2 Kings 5:1-14
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Galatians 6:1-6 (7-16)
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

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 GBCS PROJECT STATUS REPORT

(April - June, 2009)

1. ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED & RESULTS (April – June 2009)

1. Complete Distribution of Soil Conditioners and Follow-Up Meetings with the members/ farmers in the mission congregation areas.

One of the major and important components of the project is the distribution of soil conditioner as part of the livelihood support of the project. In the months of April and May, final distribution of soil conditioners and monitoring visits to determine the acidity of the soils being cultivated by the members of the mission congregations were conducted. The results of the soil testing confirmed initial assessment that the cause of low productivity is soil acidity. A total 100 bags of agricultural lime were distributed in the 6 mission areas and were distributed to 32 church members.

Initial results of the application of agricultural lime on the vegetable plantation of the farmers shows an increased level of growth among vegetables planted. The pilot farms, which were set-up for the use of the lime and lower level of commercial chemical fertilizer indicated better growth of the plants.

The one day monitoring activities per mission congregation are the following:

• Measurement and testing of the soil acidity of the pilot farms selected by the members.

• Discussion of the results of the soil testing with the members with pilot farms.

• Application of the agricultural lime based on the result of the soil testing

• The monitoring activities of the members upon application of the agricultural lime

• Schedule of soil re-testing upon application and planting.

Also agreed upon during the visits are the schedules of the next activities to be conducted including the follow-up monitoring upon application of the soil conditioner and initial results of the pilot farms production.

2. Project Monitoring and Mission Congregation Area Visit and Community Meetings

Community church visits were conducted after the initial planning in February. In these meetings, the members of the mission churches were appraised on the objectives and expected results of the project. It was also during the community meetings that the various issues, concerns and problems of the mission churches were discussed and the possible assistance that the project can provide.

In these community meetings, it was agreed that the livelihood support will be implemented immediately so that the church members will have more time to manage it in the project time frame.

It was also during the community meetings and orientation that the project team and the members of the church are able to assess the soil conditions of the proposed pilot farms to measure soil acidity and the volume of soil conditioner that will be applied.

Since the acidity of soils tested are very high, the community/church members recommended that soil conditioners will be purchased immediately in time for the next planting and harvest season.

The mission monitoring visit activities and number of participants are the following:

Mission Church	Date of Monitoring Meetings	Number of Participants
Guesset Mission	April 18	4
Aguioas Mission	April 21	6
Pito Mission	May 1	11
Boklaoan Mission	May 4	8
Sowe Mission	May 16	10
Sapuan Mission	May 26	15
TOTAL		54

3. Livelihood Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation Training

The second major training of the project is Livelihood Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation which was conducted in June 25-26, 2009. The training was held at the Baguio City First United Methodist Church in Baguio City and was participated by 21 members representing the 7 mission churches.

The 2-day activity was a combination of lectures/inputs, group assessment of the current situations and status of the livelihood projects in the mission churches, planning workshops to formulate the next action plans to improve the current conditions and implementation of the livelihood projects.

Among the major topics discussed by the resource persons were the following:

• Livelihood Project Management

  • Introduction to Project Management

  • Project Management Cycle

  • The Concept of Participatory Planning

  • Facilitating Factors in Project Management

  • Hindering Factors in Project Management

• Planning & Implementing Livelihood Projects

  • Situational Analysis

  • Identifying the livelihood Project

  • Objectives of the Livelihood project

  • Results and Outputs of the Livelihood Project

• Monitoring & Evaluating the Livelihood Project

  • Basis of Monitoring

  • The Monitoring & Evaluation Plan

  • Data Generation

  • Data Analysis

  • Reporting and Report Writing

In the evening of June 25, a teambuilding and bonding session was conducted and facilitated to develop better teamship and camaraderie among the mission congregation leaders and ministerial/project team. It was also an opportunity for each participant to share their personal and church experiences for better understanding and acceptance by the group.

At the end of the training, the participants agreed on the monitoring and evaluation indicators per project including other livelihood projects that will be implemented in the new mission areas.

The resource persons in the training are Mr. Henry L. Caluya, the Project Director, Mr. Albert Kalaskas, the head of the Mission & Evangelism Team of BCFUMC and Rev. Joie C. Galinato, the new Administrative Pastor of the BCFUMC.

4. Project Team Members’ Disaster Relief Operations & Rehabilitation

In June 4 & 5, 2009, the project team members conducted a disaster relief operation in Anda, Pangasinan. The Province of Pangasinan, in North Western Philippines was devastated by a recent typhoon that hit the country and the buildings of the Asbury Colleges, an educational institution owned and managed by the United Methodist Church was heavily damaged by the signal number 3 typhoon.

The 9-man project team, composed of 5 pastors and 4 lay members, answered the call made by UMC Bishop Rudy Juan of the Baguio Episcopal Area (BEA) to conduct massive rebuilding of the damaged/destroyed school infrastructures.

The outputs of the team during the 2-day rehabilitation work included repairs on destroyed class rooms and rebuilding of the school canteen. The repairs paved the way for the school opening in June 15, 2009.

Although the rehabilitation work in the typhoon devastated area is not part of the overall project objective, disaster response and rehabilitation is an integral part of the capability building activity that the project aims to undertake in the livelihood training. The activity in the Anda, Pangasinan rehabilitation work is an important learning process for the members of the project team that can be applied any time a similar need arises in the project areas.

2. PLANS FOR THE NEXT PERIOD & RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Animal Management Training – July 2009

2. Monitoring of Project Status – July, August & September 2009

3. Training on UMC Social Principles – August 2009

4. Project Assessment & Evaluation Conference – September 2009

3. USAGE OF FUNDS

*Note: Conversion Rate is P48.00 – $1.00

PREPARED BY: NOTED BY: APPROVED BY:

HENRY L. CALUYA - Project Director

REV. JOIE C. GALINATO - Administrative Pastor

DR. NEIL PERALTA - Council Chairperson 

View Status Report - April 2009 : View Status Report - June 2009 : View Status Report - October 2009