Project PAGLAUM in Tacurong wins more support from stakeholders

Sino pa ba ang magdadamayan, kundi tayo-tayo rin, says a song for the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals.

These lines were truly evident during the Project PAGLAUM Strategic Formulation and Action Planning Workshop on 21 March 2014. LGU-Tacurong City’s Project PAGLAUM continues to gain support from local stakeholders for the improvement of the lives of 40 family beneficiaries in one of the city’s slum areas—Purok Onse, Barangay Poblacion. During the workshop, stakeholders identified and submitted their proposed services and programs that could strengthen Project PAGLAUM.

Prior to this planning workshop, family beneficiaries identified three key problems and issues through surveys and interviews: economic (poverty, hunger, and low family income; peace and order (illegal drugs and gambling); environmental (improper solid waste management and unsanitary/no toilet ).

Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative or SUKELCO committed to help in addressing the problems on peace and order by rehabilitating street lights in the area. This includes free light inspacetions and free light installations. Families said that dark alleys encourage lawless acts at night. SUKELCO will also explore the possibilities of funding livelihood programs for the families.

Meanwhile, the Extension Office of Sultan Kudarat State University-Tacurong Campus guaranteed their support in the conduct of livelihood trainings through their existing programs such as urban gardening and Cavendish banana processing. With the LGU Agriculture Office, SKSU is determined to offer these trainings to uplift the economic status of the 40 families under Project PAGLAUM.  

The Tacurong City Police Office also vowed to intensify Oplan Kalampag, its campaign against illegal drugs. Drug users and pushers are said to usually take refuge in Purok Onse because of its location.

DepEd Tacurong further committed to conduct drug education symposia to spread awareness on the disadvantages of illegal drugs. This effort will supplement PNP’s goal to eradicate the use of illegal drugs.
Tacurong City Employees Association and Tacurong City Employees Cooperative are also determined to help families by conducting parent effectiveness seminars.

Aside from these local partners, other LGU offices such as the Planning and Development Office Coordinating Office, Engineering Office, Public Employment Service Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Health Office, Treasury Office, Accounting Office, and Registry Office committed their services for the project. The barangay government of Poblacion has also expressed its commitment in sustaining the project.

“We will consolidate these plans of action for finalization. We will unify our efforts so that there will be no duplication of programs; DILG and the LGU will make sure that our efforts will converge towards poverty alleviation,” said City DILG Officer Alberto Sero.

Project PAGLAUM prioritizes children’s rights to a peaceful and healthy environment. This project was conceived when LGU-Tacurong City became a recipient of DILG’s MDG Family-based Actions for Children and their Environs in the Slum (FACES) Program. One in every three slum dwellers is a child.

 “I believe that we will achieve our goal. Project PAGLAUM will be sustained because of this tremendous support from local partners,” said Mayor Lina Montilla during the workshop.

Project PAGLAUM monitoring team is headed by City Councilor Psyche M. Sucaldito. (LGU-Tacurong City Information)