CARAGA MHP and Community – based BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION towards SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

A PROJECT FUNDED BY THE UNDP – GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY / SMALL GRANTS PROGRAMME

                                                                                                                                                                   THE PROJECT Sitio Sangab, Barangay Pichon lies 54 kilometers away from the municipality of Caraga, Davao Oriental. Its elevation at 989 meters above sea level owing to its vast forest resources, it is endowed with abundant source of water. Hence, micro-hydropower is a big potential of Mandaya indigenous people whose main source of income is abaca, corn and a few traditional rice farming. An isolated off-grid community – it is characterized by rugged road terrain. Around 150 households would be benefited by this project by way of household lighting, corn milling and abaca stripping would enhance their socio-economic upliftment. It is also hoped that by way of synergy, other development efforts of the Mandaya community would be also enhanced as a result of the micro-hydropower. More importantly, the project also involves regeneration and protection of indigenous tree species like the lauan, molave, and other tropical trees.

PROJECT COST

The UNDP – GEF / Small Grants Programme, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental, the Local Government Unit of the Caraga Municipality and the community contribution form part of the main funding source to implement this project. The total project cost is estimated at PhP 4,486,231.00 for the two-year project duration.

YAMOG ASSISTANCE

With the request from the UNDP-GEF /Small Grants Programme.  Yamog did the technical design.

planning for this project in 1998. And in the next year, started the rehabilitation of the project.

PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

The project is being implemented by the Caraga Development Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the people’s organization named SUMANCODA – a community based organization among the Mandaya indigenous people composed with more than 100 active members. Yamog acted as the technical partner that involved in technical aspects of the project implementation including the training of local operators and electricians.

The project started in May 2000 with the active participation of SUMANCODA membership. The project is still in operation  since 2001.