A three-year community development project was launched by the Catanduanes State Colleges at Buyo District, Virac, in partnership with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Virac Municipal Government and the Diocese of Virac.
The project, which has five components—environmental management, livelihood and entrepreneurial skills development, literacy and values education and health and nutrition—was formally launched through a MOA signing among the CSC and partner agencies on December 22, 2010.
CSC President Dr. Asuncion V. Asetre said the counterpart of the CSC in the program is not funding assistance but technical support through its pool of lecturers and trainers for capability building activities.
Virac MPDO Urgel Santelices, who represented Mayor Jose U. Alberto, said choosing Buyo district as recipient of program is timely since it deserves appropriate development intervention. Santelices added 4 of the 10 barangays in Virac with incidence of malnutrition can be found in Buyo District. It has also the lowest population-comfort room ratio in the municipality.
The locality is known for its lumber and other wood products industry. As such, MPDO Santelices emphasized that the challenge for the project stakeholders is to shift from ‘a community that destroys to a community that builds.’
Governor Cua’s message, as read by ABC President Rosario M. Arcilla urged for the balanced use of natural resources. The Governor relayed that ‘as custodians of the planet, it is our duty to protect it.’
On the other hand, Congressman Sarmiento, in his message read by Atty. Fred Gianan, assured the district of the his support to the program and promised to talk with the program coordinator the next time he comes home in order to discuss possible ways for resource sharing.
The project, as relayed by Prof Sonia Vargas of CSC extension services, started from the request of Buyo Mission Church to CSC for a three-day training on dressmaking. The project was eventually expanded into what is now the formulated comprehensive community development program for Buyo District constituents.
Buyo District is comprised of barangays Buyo, Dugui San Isidro, Dugui Too, Dugui Wala, Hicming, Poniton, Simamla Proper, Sogod Simamla, and Tubaon. (CSC)
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