CFSED

WOVENCRAFTS – TIKOG WORKERS ASSOCIATIONS

Basey, Samar

The Tikog Workers Associations supported by Wovencrafts Inc. are composed of 60+ women artisans producing hand-woven mats and other handicraft items. Because of the pervasive poverty throughout Samar, many people are either forced to participate in illegal and destructive activities, or live with just eating two meals per day. Woven seeks to combat this problem by increasing the average monthly income of its partner artisans.
With the CFSED project, the weavers have begun to utilize other locally sourced non-timber forest products (NTFP) such as rattan and nito vines for the production of handicraft items. They have also established a nursery which will hopefully supply the raw material needs for such items.

SOHOTON SERVICES COOPERATIVE

Basey, Samar

The Sohoton Services Cooperative (SSC) is a people’s organization that operates tour services in the Sohoton Natural Bridge National Park. The park is a protected area covering more than 800 hectares of mountainous forests, complete with rivers, falls, and caves.
Through CFSED, SEARCH has enhanced the skills and capabilities of SSC members so that they can provide better quality services to visitors, resulting in an improved eco-tourism experience and, hopefully, increased number of customers. Of course, the increase in visitors is being accompanied by appropriate investments (i.e. waste management systems) to prevent damage to the natural environment. All in all, the project aims to improve the income of SSC members from eco-tourism services, and tie income generation together with environmental preservation.

CACAO AGRO-FORESTRY ASSOCIATION

Lawaan, Eastern Samar

The Cacao Agro-Forestry Farmers Association (CAFA) is a group of 44 low-income farmers seeking to practice sustainable agro-forestry in the town of Lawaan. Their farms are located near the Samar Island National Park, which is home to the largest low-land forest in the Philippines.
Through the CFSED project, CAFA is establishing 50 hectares of organic and diversified cacao plantations that will serve as the first line of defense for Samar’s protected area. Each of the 44 CAFA members have planted almost 400 cacao trees each, intercropped with forest trees, fruit bearing trees, vegetables, and other crops. These farms are expected to sustain the food and income needs of the farmers in the long run. CAFA has also set-up a forest tree nursery that will contribute to the reforestation of nearby areas.

NAGKAKAISANG TRIBU NG PALAWAN, INC.

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan

The Nagkakaisang Tribu ng Palawan, Inc. (NATRIPAL) or the United Tribes of Palawan, is a federation of over sixty indigenous people’s organizations spread across the island of Palawan. The federation runs programs involving land rights, natural resource management, enterprise development, community organizing and advocacy especially on mining or destructive industries since most mining areas are the homelands of the indigenous people.
In particular, the CFSED project focuses on members of the indigenous Tagbanwa tribe in support of their Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP). SEARCH is working with NATRIPAL to support the forest-based social enterprise component of the plan focused on honey harvesting, processing and trading.

BROOKE'S POINT COCO PRODUCT PRODUCERS COOPERATIVE

Brooke's Point, Palawan

Brooke’s Point Coco Product Producers Cooperative, or BPCPPC, is a community-based social enterprise composed of farmers from the indigenous Pala’wan tribe, most of whom live below the food threshold. Three years since its founding, the cooperative mainly focused on producing and manufacturing virgin coconut oil (VCO).
As such, the CFSED project intends to upgrade the cooperative so that it becomes a significant source of income for Brooke’s Point’s larger community, and a stronger deterrent against mining and other destructive activities. In particular, SEARCH is assisting BPCPPC in developing new coconut by-products such as flour, vinegar, aminos, and hair serum. The project also seeks to improve the efficiency and productivity of BPCPPC’s operation so as to minimize costs and maximize income for cooperative members.