PACAP presents project accomplishments in Caraga

"Implicit in the Philippines-Australia Community Assistance Program (PACAP) goal are poverty-focused improvements in local economies, the environment and the social context," thus said Lourdes Marina Padilla, PACAP Program Coordinator during the media briefing on Tuesday (April 13) held at the Function Room of Dottie's Place Hotel, this city.

According to Padilla, PACAP has been effecting the improvements through 276 civil society organizations spread across 59 of the country's 81 provinces, and has benefitted well over one million people through Responsive Assistance Scheme (RAS), and 800,000 people through Focused Community Assistance Scheme (FOCAS) method.

Padilla further presented that FOCAS-Mindanao was able to approved 114 grant agreements with a grant amount of Php 237 million in three provinces where two of the said provinces are in Caraga Region: Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Norte. Misamis Occidental in Region 10 is also included as beneficiary.

In Agusan del Sur, 34 grant agreements was made amounting to Php 76 million. Misamis Occidental followed with 43 grant agreements which has a grant amount of Php 85 million. Surigao del Norte is the third to benefit with 37 grant agreements and with grant amount of Php 77 million.

FOCAS-Visayas, on the other hand, was able to approve 63 grant agreements with Php 174 million grant amount, with the following composition: Bohol ? 31 grant agreements amounting to Php 92 million and; Northern Samar ? 32 grant agreements with Php 82 million grant amount.

Meanwhile, under RAS, 251 grant agreements were approved with a grant amount of Php 336 million.

PACAP projects have made every effort to address issues of environmental protection, either directly or indirectly.

Almost two thirds (62.5%) of PACAP?s completed projects have included components that have contributed directly to Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 7 which is to ensure environmental sustainability.

Of these projects, more than half (56%) have promoted the implementation of new or reformed local environmental ordinances, while 47% have facilitated the formation of new community-based environmental protection groups.

PACAP has currently completed forty-four environmental protection projects, including marine sanctuaries and organic fertilizer production facilities.

On average, each project has planted almost 40,000 trees, corresponding to an estimated total of 1.09 million trees since January 2005.

Of the 19 FOCAS engagement strategies, 31% have a strong ecological emphasis, four centering specifically on significant protected areas such as: Agusan Marsh, Siargao Island, Lake Mainit, all in Caraga Region, and Mount Malindang in Misamis Occidental, Region 10. (PIA-Caraga)

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