…a pose of parents and children after the distribution
…parents and children waited for the formal distribution amidst the heat of the burning sun patiently...
OPLAN BALIK ESKWELA 2009
…a pose of parents and children after the distribution …parents and children waited for the formal distribution amidst the heat of the burning sun patiently...
IRDT as the Years Go By
For the past three years, IRDT has been a part of a continuing and fast-paced process of Transformation. Alongside with all these efforts, the tri-culture communities have been witnesses to the institution’s untiring interventions of an unendless support in the fields of people’s empowerment, economic development, meaningful participation in governance, and the sustainability of the gains of peace in the respective area of influence.
But change is not a matter of law and procedures. What truly counts in actualizing any desired change is what lies behind all this and this is the Human Organization – the Men and Women and Children who give life to this growing institution – they who have contributed to IRDT’s growth.
This year 2009, Integrated Resource Development for Tri-people (IRDT), marked its 3rd year celebration servicing pre-schoolers and elementary school-goers through the provision of school supplies like notebooks, short plastic envelopes, pencils, crayons, rulers, scissors and the like in its “pakwela”:OPLAN Balik Eskwela 2009.
With greater dedication and selfless commitment, IRDT has served a number of 265 schoolers. The solicited notebooks which accounted to 950 pieces were a courtesy of Save the children (DPR Mindanao ) – USAID, Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN) and other sponsors and benefactors. The school supplies were distributed to children-beneficiaries from the three (3) IRDT tri-culture communities – Mampang, Talon-talon and Arena Blanco on June 5, 2009. Breakdown of distribution is as follows: - 110 pre-schoolers, 35 Grade 1s, 25 Grade 2s, 20 Grade 3s, 20 Grade 4s, 25 Grade 5s and 30 Grade 6s.
By then, IRDT expressed its heartfelt thanks and utmost gratitude to the Lord and to Save the Children (DPR Mindanao) – USAID, MERN, Pharmacare, Ms. Jesyl Joy C. Lipaopao and all other supporters and benefactors. In working hand in hand, we can be truly partners in the attainment of common goals. Inspired by the tri-culture communities’ competence, this 3rd year and the years that will follow will be repleted with far-reaching accomplishments and more meaningful achievements.
But change is not a matter of law and procedures. What truly counts in actualizing any desired change is what lies behind all this and this is the Human Organization – the Men and Women and Children who give life to this growing institution – they who have contributed to IRDT’s growth.
This year 2009, Integrated Resource Development for Tri-people (IRDT), marked its 3rd year celebration servicing pre-schoolers and elementary school-goers through the provision of school supplies like notebooks, short plastic envelopes, pencils, crayons, rulers, scissors and the like in its “pakwela”:OPLAN Balik Eskwela 2009.
With greater dedication and selfless commitment, IRDT has served a number of 265 schoolers. The solicited notebooks which accounted to 950 pieces were a courtesy of Save the children (DPR Mindanao ) – USAID, Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN) and other sponsors and benefactors. The school supplies were distributed to children-beneficiaries from the three (3) IRDT tri-culture communities – Mampang, Talon-talon and Arena Blanco on June 5, 2009. Breakdown of distribution is as follows: - 110 pre-schoolers, 35 Grade 1s, 25 Grade 2s, 20 Grade 3s, 20 Grade 4s, 25 Grade 5s and 30 Grade 6s.
By then, IRDT expressed its heartfelt thanks and utmost gratitude to the Lord and to Save the Children (DPR Mindanao) – USAID, MERN, Pharmacare, Ms. Jesyl Joy C. Lipaopao and all other supporters and benefactors. In working hand in hand, we can be truly partners in the attainment of common goals. Inspired by the tri-culture communities’ competence, this 3rd year and the years that will follow will be repleted with far-reaching accomplishments and more meaningful achievements.
Oplan Balik Eskuwela
dear partners, in behalf of the communities, parents and pupils who were benefited of your donations, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to you for the priceless gifts that we had have for the children beneficiaries of our Oplan Balik Eskuwela conducted on June 5, 2009.as our way of appreciating your support, herewith providing you copy of a brief documentation and photos of the activity. we hope this piece of paper would inspire you so much and keep you more open to help the needy children like them. thank you... enjoy viewing these cuties photos, you are such a big part of their 2009 journey to better education.partner in development, ben isnainoic executive directorirdt
The Historical Background
The Integrated Resource Development for Tri-people (IRDT) has its origin from its founders’ engagement as volunteer in the different peace and development undertakings all throughout the Western Mindanao region. The over five years of solid ground-based experience in community development work, often under the assistance of the United Nations Multi-Donor Programme has led to the realization of the need to finally establish a service institution with its outreach nature to deliver an integrated development assistance. Realizing the multi-cultural environment of the region, the organization believes that an innovative approach in development must factor in the “Tri-people” concept. Thence, IRDT was organized in July 2004. It is a non-governmental volunteer organization engaged in integrated community development work that primarily caters to the needs of the less privileged and marginalized tri-people and conflict-affected communities. It was then registered with Securities and Exchange Commission on May 26, 2006 under SEC Reg. No. CN200627145. In like manner, it has been also recognized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development under DSWD Reg. No. FO-IX-2008-064.
Today, IRDT has an office located at Km.6, Federico Galvez Subdivision, Mampang, Zamboanga City.
The IRDT Distinct Characteristic
Quite a distinct feature of the IRDT is its “tri-people” concern particularly its on-going efforts to provide the necessary assistance within its capacity for the indigenous peoples in the Western Mindanao area. Initially, it has ventured to undertake a long term engagement in promoting cultural understanding and harmony through its Cultural Heritage Project. Anchored on the belief that culture plays a very crucial role in social relations on peace and harmony among people of different communities, IRDT takes this initiative of highlighting and mainstreaming the “tri-people cultures” in close collaboration with many local peace partners and formations. As a new player in the area of development work, IRDT shall soon demonstrate its vast organizational experience as it delivers its programs and services to its target clientele.
The IRDT Program and Services
1. Peace Education and Literacy Program (PELP) A. Peace Education: a soft component in the promotion and advocating culture of peace in a culturally diverse community in Mindanao. The holistic approach of IRDT is to solve equal participation of tri-people. The component aimed at providing peace education seminars and trainings, promoting cultural heritage, art works for peace, community based interfaith dialogue, and integration of peace education in its literacy program.
B. Literacy: Level I- is designed to provide basic non-formal education to prospective learner beneficiaries who have not gone to school irregardless of gender and age. Basically, it facilitates familiarization of English and Filipino alphabet and numbers, infused with basic writing skills, values, social ethics and peace education. Level 2- Learning foci are Filipino-English reading, writing and arithmetic, Integrated with socio-economic-political-cultural and civic consciousness, GAD and peace education.
2. Local GovernanceThe component aimed to enhance capacities of local special bodies in target communities, modeling skills enhancement of local officials in Barangay Development Planning through Participatory Resource Appraisal/Participatory Coastal Resource Appraisal as an approach to community participatory governance.
4. Women and Children Protection (WCP)
This component works in collaboration with government agencies, non- government organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive and integrated program to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons and develop a mechanism to ensure the timely, coordinated and effective response to cases of trafficking in persons.
5. Relief and Emergency Response (RR)
This component attributes IRDT as one of the lead implementing agencies of Mindanao Emergency Response Network (MERN) for Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM Island Provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi. Mainly, our assistance to emergency situation is through access of support/assistance from partner- organizations and deployment of volunteers to affected areas whether home-based or center-based. Through partnership with local government units, IRDT helps facilitate data validation and assessment, as well as assist/facilitate resource accessing. Psychosocial debriefing and disaster management and other trainings are also part of the services.
6. Socio-Economic and Livelihood Program (SELP)
IRDT helps communities in developing an industry-based livelihood program:
a. Entrepreneurship and Skills Training: designed to train PO’s selected potential members in any trade area that either will enhance the community existing industry or in support to proper utilization and maximizing community resource. Our assistance also includes market network and linkages.
b. Community-fund Management: intended to provide capital for under-privileged sectors that are engaged or are engaging in small-scale or self-income generating project. The program adopts community-fund management scheme as a high regard to culture sensitivity especially in Muslim communities.
c. Home-based Food Security Program: aimed at providing farm inputs grants to agriculture potential communities. Basically, it is a promotion of background gardening; encouraging individual families to make small-farming a great promising food security at the minimum and agri-business enterprise at large.
7. Ecological and Environmental Care Program (EECP)
The component focuses on advocacy, bio-diversity and building capacity of local government and special bodies on environmental governance. It primarily facilitates coastal resources management, upland and agricultural development, land tilling and tenure improvements in collaboration with government concerned agencies.
8. Technical Assistance and Consultancy (TAC)
With IRDT’s experiences and exposures in community integrated development work, it offered technical and consultancy services to partners in the following trade areas:
1. Community-based infrastructure development projects;
2. Social Preparation-Community Organizing and Development;
3. Implementation of Community-based Trainings and Skills Transfer specialized in PIME, Resource-based Management, GAD-RBA, Peace Education, Community Environment and Disaster Management, Institutional Building and Organizational Development and Management, Accountancy for Non-accountants or Community-based Financial Management, Community-fund Management, Community Enterprise Development, Cooperative Memberships, Education Services, Trainers Training on Community Organizing, and Art works;
4. Barangay Development Planning using PRA and PCRA tools;
5. Project Development and Resource Mobilization.
Our consultancy services to other institutions and private partners is a great facilitating factor that helps in the delivery and implementation of community projects and services under other components of the program despite scarcity of financial resources. The Technical Assistance and Consultancy (TAC) component serves as the
The IRDT Organizational Structure
IRDT is managed and operated by highly motivated staffs who are competent professionals; registered and experienced social workers, community development specialists, electrical and civil engineers, accountants, agriculturists, educators and computer technicians. It is governed by a Board of Directors, the highest governing and policy-making body. Operation and project implementation and management rest on the Program Management Team composed of the Executive Director, Technical Assistant, Administrative Officer, Finance Officer, Bookkeeper and Office Clerks. Program operations in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi are carried out through the field support staffs composed of the provincial coordinators assigned in each province.
The IRDT Logo
The IRDT logo simply portrays the popular symbol for the City of Zamboanga - the Vinta with its colorful sail. But deeper looks at the image, somehow, profoundly express something that generally speaks about Mindanao. The sail obviously reveals the “tri-people” representing the essential social characteristic of cultural diversity of the land, commonly expressed as the Tri-people of Mindanao- the Christian Settlers, the Muslims, and the Lumads. The image speaks a solemn message; that only in a spirit of cooperation and harmony shall the boat sail smoothly.
The Partnership, Networks and Linkages
1. Member of Mindanao Emergency Response Network: an active partner of Ateneo Peace Institute in carrying out its function as convener of the network in Zamboanga Peninsula and in Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-tawi Provinces (ZampenBaSulTa).
2. Accredited member of Mindanao Communicators Network (MindaComNet-IX): a new member of the network involved in the conduct of Peace Information Caravan in 2006 in the Peace and Development Communities in Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur provinces. It is also an active partner of Radio Philippine Network-IX in community outreach programs and activities.
3. Member of the Regional Management Council (RMC) of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Zamboanga City, Region IX.
4. Consultant of the Lupah Sug Advocators for Peace and Development (LSAd): Provides technical assistance to the organization relative to its organizational development and field operations.
5. Active member of the Asia-Japan Friendship Society Cluster, Region IX
6. Active member of the Philippines Against Child Trafficking (PACT) Region IX: as member agency displays an important role in advocacy campaign, as well as, in conducting street education activities for street children.
7. Affiliate Member of Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO (MindCode).
8. An active supporter to the Local Governance Support Program (LGSP) in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the pursuit of Peace and development.
9. An active Supporter to the Volunteer Organizations, Information, Coordination and Exchange, Inc. (VOICE), Zamboanga-Basilan Cluster, in their “ Research on National Volunteering in the Philippines”.
10. ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc.: an active partner of SAGIP KAPAMILYA Micro-Nutrients Program for IDP children in Sulu Province.
11. City Social Welfare and Development Office, Zamboanga City: IRDT provides unwavering support in the rehabilitation of Day Care Center in Barangay Arena Blanco, Zamboanga City.
12. Technical Education on Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), an active partner on vocational education and livelihood enhancement of women and out-of-school youths (OSYs).
