Davao del Norte's convergence program ensures sustainability

By Jeanevive D. Abangan

Saturday 4th of August 2012

TAGUM CITY, Aug 4 (PIA) -- Davao del Norte has partnered with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) through the 1003rd Infantry Brigade in rolling out the Convergence for Peace and Development program, with sustainability as a principal objective.

Guesting in the Kapihan sa Kapitolyo, Convergence secretariat head Josie Jean Rabanoz, who is also department head of the Provincial Planning and Development (PPDO), said Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario has ordered that projects and interventions brought to barangays on convergence day are sustainable.

Rabanoz made clear the perception of some sectors that viewed the program as a “one shot deal,” leaving the area after it hauled and pooled together government services to depressed far-flung barangays.

She cited the milk-feeding activity done by the provincial health office (PHO) during Convergence Day.

She said the PHO, through the municipal health office, takes focus on malnourished children by pushing through the feeding activity even after Convergence Day.

“Even with Gulayan sa Barangay, the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO) checks whether the distributed seeds have been planted. We make it a point to go back to the areas where we held the Convergence,” she said.

Along with sustainability is monitoring that the provincial government is instituting to determine the impact of Convergence to the lives of residents in recipient barangays.

The Convergence for Peace and Development is a joint venture of Governor del Rosario and the 1003rd Infantry Brigade under commanding officer Col. Lysander Suerte.

The program brings together the agenda of Del Rosario to “put human in development” and the thrust of the AFP Philippine Army 10th Infantry Division to wage “peace and development.”

Conceptualized in April 2011 and rolled off in August last year, the Convergence Program hauls a menu of services to barangays identified as depressed and far-flung areas. It brings together heads of key provincial government office, local chief executives of the province and military officials and ground troop commanders of the 1003rd IB to personally know the concerns of barangay officials.

After it served eight barangays last year, the Convergence hauled the caravan of government services to 14 more barangays from January to June this year.

Rabanoz said a total of 32 barangays in the 1st and 2nd districts of Davao del Norte are targeted to benefit from the program this 2012.

On Convergence Day, the PHO, the Provincial Economic Enterprise and Development Office (PEEDO), the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), the Provincial Veterinarian’s Office (PVO), the PAGRO, the Provincial Legal Office (PLO), the Provincial Engineer’s Office, PPDO, the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) haul their services for residents of target barangays to freely avail them.

The AFP and PNP provide security, assist in the conduct of medical and dental services, offer free hair-cut services, issue police clearance, provide entertainment through the AFP Raptor Band, augment manpower needs and accommodates community consultation.

PHO conducts and offers services under its program on family health care, dental, environmental health and sanitation, nutrition, renal disease control, population management and malaria control. It also conducts laboratory services and offers massage therapy services.

Data provided by PPDO shows that PHO served a total of 17,588 from January to June this year.

PSWDO provides free porridge (lugaw), distributes slippers for day care children and instructional materials for daycare teachers, gives free hair-cut services, conducts counseling on social issues and provides burial assistance.

PSWDO delivered its services to a total of 8,651 residents in 14 barangays where Convergence visited within the first semester this year.

Rabanoz explained that PENRO usually goes a day before to the barangay where Convergence is set to take place to conduct information and education campaign on climate change and solid waste management in schools. It also regularly conducts the tree-growing activity before the Convergence so residents can avail of social and medical services offered during Convergence Day.

PENRO served 1,473 beneficiaries, posting high number of recipients of forest and fruit trees.

PAGRO distributes seeds, tilapia/carp fingerlings garden tools corn seed and redisperse livestock. It also sets up "Gulayan sa Barangay."

The PVO conducts artificial insemination and diagnosis of animal diseases and offered animal health services for cattle, carabao, goats, swine, poultry, horse; and anti-rabies vaccination for dogs.

Within the first six months of the year, the PVO rendered assistance to a total of 83,021 beneficiaries, posting high number of recipients of dewormer drench, vitamins premixes and antibiotic premixes.

The PLO delivered a total of 711 notarial services and legal consultation within the first half of the year while the PEEDO distributed on site a total of 544 PhilHealth cards. (PIA-11/jmdabangan)