Children's Desk Appraisal Study by PASALI Philippines Foundation

Subiyah Bldg., Fil-Am Avenue, Purok 11-C, Barangay Fatima, General Santos City, Philippines 9500 E pasaliphilippines@yahoo.com.ph T(+63) (0) 9162818118 Wpasaliphilippines.org Facebook Migrant’s initiative transforms community through technology and Tri-people empowerment.

Appraisal Study

PASALI Philippines, Children’s Desk November to December 2011

I. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Title of the Project

2. Name of Organization

329/10183 – Community Appraisal for replication of project ‘ Enhancement of Tripeople Children Rights and Development’ Childrens Desk PASALI Philippines Foundation,Inc

Address

Barangay Fatima, General Santos City, Philippines

Contact Person/Number

Mr. Wahab I. Guialal, Program Manager +639162818118/(083)3035274

3. Name Contract holder

Mokamad Q. Kusain

4. Project Duration

November to December

5. Project Location 6. Reporting period

General Santos City (6 barangays), Sarangani (3 barangays), Sultan Kudarat (3 barangays) December 2011

7. Total Project Cost

(Please refer to financial report of this study)

II. COMMUNITY APPRAISAL 1. Rationale Through its interventions the past five consecutive years PASALI has brought significant changes to the lives of the families and in particular the children of the IP and Moro communities of three barangays in General Santos City and the remote, mountainous village of the Manobo Indigenous Community in Biao, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. The most notable changes in Gensan is that child protection services have become active in three levels: the City Council for the Protection of Children (CCPC) now has longer arms, since PASALI has contributed to the inclusion of many stakeholders in the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) of the three barangaysand have facilitated the revival of operations of these bodies.In addition, the Purok Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC), which is a brainchild of PASALI, as well as the community Core Group have been working so intensely that barangay officials see a significant drop in the number of child and family cases put forward at that level. PASALI Children’s Desk has also effectively achieved its deliverables through its extended direct services; ranging from facilitating street children back to school and their respective communities, to uniting children against discrimination, to tapping the private sectors of the nonprofit and commercial sectors to work together in educational sidesupply initiatives, to active partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development with its new social programs. PASALI’s advocacy and partnership with the IP Manobo community in Biao, Napnapon, Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat has resulted in the establishment of a primary school recognized by the DWSD and an elementary school recognized by the Department of Education for a school of more than 150 IP children coming from the surrounding nine puroks. Now nearing the end of its threeyear intervention program PASALI looks to the future of many other Tripeople areas in need of similar interventions. In the six municipalities PASALI has its project of the Farm Support Scheme – System of Rice Intensification for rural households, the situation of children is found to be in dire need of transformation. Schooling rates are low, particularly with the IP communities who would need to walk more 5 km to get to the nearest school. In other cases, schools may be present, but parents cannot afford the tuition, the schools supply costs, or even the daily transportation costs to and from the school. The rate of doctors or nurses to the number of inhabitants can be as low as an appalling 1: 45,000, and even with the presence of a clinic, many services necessary in the area are not available.

With the introduction of the DWSD’s social program, the 4Ps the past year more children and families should gain access to facilities, but this has not gone without troubles. PASALI has been able to assist DWSD Region 12 in Palimbang in contact with beneficiaries as well as involved in validation of beneficiaries’ identity and complaints. But as PASALI plans to enter more areas with similar zest, further assessment of the areas is needed. To this end, PASALI conducted a study from November to December 2011 of this year to help provide a deeper understanding of the living conditions particularly of access to education and health of the vulnerable sectors in the other barangays of General Santos City, three municipalities in Sarangani, and one in Sultan Kudarat.The result of this study provides the base for the formulation of a social protection framework, out of which a package of proactive and participatory social welfare service can be designed. 2. Objectives General Objective: The results of this study form the guide for planning the extension of the Children’s Desk program of the PASALI. Analysis of the area will provide the framework for the intervention, assessment, monitoring and evaluation of the coming threeyear plan. Specifically, this study: A specific objective of this study is to draw socioeconomic and sociodemographic profiles of the sample children of IP and Moro population in the four barangay of General Santos City and in the six barangays of four municipalities of Palimbang (3), Alabel (1), Kiamba (1) and Maitum (1). Another specific objective is to specify the living conditions of the Moro and IP children in the above barangays/locations. This data will then be used to recommend and drawout appropriate and integrated interventions towards enhancement of the rights and development of children in the communities. 3. Design: methodology, procedure Methodology – The study utilized descriptive research design using both qualitative and quantitative approaches for eliciting information from authorities and recipients of the above mentioned locations. To this end, approaches included desk research or review of existing profiles of the areas, conducting sample focus group discussions and participantobservation. Quantitative data is taken from the literature sources as well as sample questionnaires for the target respondents. Procedure – This included: (1) review of relevant literature in aid of formulating questionnaire, this could help understand and provide the researcher of the different variables confronting the children; (2) instrumentation to fine tune and finalization of the questionnaires based on the situational analysis of the study team; (3) training of enumerators, a oneday training be conducted after survey questionnaire is finalized to the target enumerators or fieldworkers; (4) pretesting, this will be undertaken to determine which question is confusing or could not be understood easily by the respondents. This exercise is an extension training for the enumerators so also to measure the length of time consume in one questionnaire. This research was managed by the Study Team headed by the Program Manager, composed of the Children Desk Coordinator, Advocacy Officer and the Admin/Finance Officer of PASALI. A Professional Research Writer and a Statistician were hired to package the findings and analysis of the data into a bookbound form. Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be signed and executed between the PASALI Management and the Research Writer. III RESULTS Below are descriptions of the living conditions of the families in relation to the situation of the children particularly concerning access to education and health facilities in the areas where PASALI wishes to extend. 1. General Santos Location:

The city is bounded by municipalities of Sarangani Province namely Alabel in the East of the city, and Maasim in the South. The city is likewise bounded by South Cotabato municipality of Polomolok and Sarangani Province, municipality of Malungon in the north, and the municipality of T'boli in the west of the city. General Santos City is the center of commerce, trade, and logistics of Region XII and South Cotabato, Cotabato City, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province and General Santos City (SOCCSKSARGEN) growth area.

Scale & demographic data: The total population of General Santos City was 529,542 persons as of August 1, 2007, based on the 2007 Census of Population. By year 2011 there are about 275,777 total child populations, as projected by the General Santos City Planning Office. The number of households reached 111,927, which was 25,332 households more than the number of households posted in 2000. The average household size in 2007 was 4.7 persons. The overall dependency ratio was computed at 60, which means that for every 100 persons in the working age group, there were 60 dependents (56 young and 4 old dependents). Of the household population 5 years old and over, 31.2 percent had attended or finished elementary education while 35.8 percent had reached high school. Proportion of academic degree holders was 9.2 percent, an increase of 4.5 percentage points from 4.7 percent in 2000. More females reached higher levels of education than males as shown by higher proportion of females with academic degree (55.3 percent) and post baccalaureate courses (55.2 percent). Among the household population 5 to 24 years old, majority (62.9 percent) attended school at anytime during School Year 2007 to 2008. Almost the same proportion of males (50.1 percent) and females (49.9 percent) attended school during said school year. Barangay Upper Labay had 2,911 residents by the end of 2007, with an estimated child population of 1,663. Barangay Sinawal had 10,861 residents by the end of 2007, with an estimated child population of 6,206.Barangay Bawing had 9,573 residents by the end of 2007, with an estimated child population of 3, 267. Barangay Apopong had 40, 642 residents by the end of 2007 with an estimated child population of 10, 743. The urbanization of all four barangays is rural. Spoken languages: Main language is “Visaya” (Cebuano). Spoken languages are Ilonggo, Tagalog/Filipino, B’laan, T’Boli, Maguindanaon. Number of SchoolGoing Children 3

According to Department of Education, there are a total of 75, 809 (39,090 males and 36, 719 females) pupils in General Santos City from Grade 1 to Grade 6. On the other hand, 41,267 comprised the children going in secondary schools as of academic year 20092010. Ethnicity Among the moro, tribes present in the area of coverage of appraisal are 1) Maguindanaon, 2) Maranao, 3) Tausug, 4) Iranon, and 5) Tagabiwangan. The Maguindanaon and the closely related Tagabiwangan predominate among all moro tribes, as this general location is historically part of the Principality of Rajah Buayan and the combined Sultanate of Maguindanao. The Maranao, Tausug and Iranun are found interspersed and in small numbers. The Maranaos particularly in the public markets and mercantile trading centers. Among the Indigenous Peoples, tribes present in the area are the 1) Manobo, 2) B'laan, 3) Teduray, 4) T’boli. General Santos City was once called “Dadiangas”, which is a B’laan term referring to a local shrub. The B’laan is the largest indigenous tribe in the area, followed by the closely related T’boli. Among the Settlers, who comprise the vast majority of the people in the area, the known tribes are 1) Bicolano, 2) Waray, 3) Cebuano, 4) Tagalog, 5) Illongo, and 6) Ilocano. Though also found in good number in the rural areas, they are mostly concentrated in the more urban locations. Other ethnic groups present are the Badjaos, a nomadic seabased tribe originating from the islands of Western Mindanao. They have pockets of families scattered in the SOCSKSARGEN area who mostly engage in peddling. In the expansion barangays, the distributions of ethnicity are as follows: Ethnicity Moro

IP Barangays

Barangay Apopong Barangay Bawing Barangay Sinawal Barangay Upper Labay Table 1

B’ L A A N

35% 15% 60% 85%

M A N O B O

T’ B O L I

8% 3%

T E D U R A Y S

M A G U I N.

13% 13% 7% 5%

T A U S U G

M A R A N A O

Christian

B A D J A O

S A N G I L

S A M A L

18%

13%

2% 4%

(Bicolano,W aray,Cebua no, Tagalog, Illongo, Ilocano)

Total

50% 27% 30% 10%

100% 100% 100% 100%

Status: Settlers generally follow the norms of getting birth certificates for their children and marriage certificates for marriages. Issuance of birth certificates are quickly facilitated particularly if the births are made in licensed birthing facilities. But a good portion of the Moro populace and a large part of the indigenous tribes do not observe this practice, both in applying for birth certificates and marriage certificates. Legal documentation of personal status and condition is regarded as a foreign practice and not part of their sociocultural way of life. For them, the legal bond is made through “word of honor”. As a result, when time comes that they badly need to avail of social public health and education services provided by government, they have a hard time doing so. Only at this juncture do they work for the application of such birth and marriage certificates in order to avail of the public service provided by government, thus creating complications. Access to Education: Elementary and secondary education facilities (public schools) are generally present within the vicinity of the barangays identified, or in the next neighboring barangay for children aged 5 to 16 to go to. However, the issue is not on the presence or availability of basic public education facilities, but on the accessibility to these facilities. In several cases, children are required to walk between 30 to 45 minutes from their homes to the schools every day in order to avail of basic education. Rural barangays generally have a larger land area compared to urban barangays (about twice to four times as large). In addition, the roads and access routes of these barangays are usually 4

undeveloped or underdeveloped. Concretization of roads are usually limited to the portion of the barangay where the local barangay hall is located, connecting this to the interconnecting routes leading to the poblacion or city center. Beyond this point, dirt roads abound. For those fortunate to find support for tertiary education, the only affordable public education facility within the general vicinity of the SOCSKSARGEN area is the Mindanao State University – General Santos City campus, located in Barangay Tambler of that city. At a rate of PHP50.00 per unit, the aspiring undergraduate can enroll and go to college. No other public tertiary education facility is found within that area. Problems and Protection concerns: BCPC Functionality None was found to be functional BCPC among the 4 target expansion barangays in Gensan. They were found weak in areas like organizational functionality (seen in the frequency of meetings), operationalization, coordination work with quick response team, resource mobilization, capability building of members, and documentation and data banking. Only Barangay Bawing was rated as semifunctional during the annual BCPC Monitoring last Nov. 2125, 2011which was actually the previous year’s Most Functional BCPC. The PCPC Concept and functionality Only in our 3 old barangays in Gensan(San Jose, Fatima, and Tambler) Purok Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC) works as support mechanism to BCPC. Various cases of children are addressed immediately in the purok level lessening the burdens in barangay level. In addition, this leads to the formation of the core group (consists of core representatives from 3 barangays that assists PASALI in most of child rights advocacy/project related activities (e.i. Children’s Congress, Blood Letting/medical missions, Undas, yearend gatherings, etc.). Specifically in San Jose, PCPC had paved way for the community’s establishment of “botikabinhi” (mini pharmacy), upland farming (corn/vegetables/peanut) and animal dispersal. These economic activities became parents’ support in sustaining the schooling of children. Challenges faced on access to rights and services The remoteness of the area, lack of funds on the part of the barangay local governments and limited support from city government on access for seminars and workshops on children’s rights and services, lack of interest/resistance on the part of barangay officials to advocate and implement children’s laws (RA 9344) and programs are the challenges faced by vulnerable sector like families particularly children. Problems faced by children ages 5 – below 18 Children aged from 5 to 8 year oldare malnourished and are not going to school, or are drop outs. Children aged between 13 to 18 years oldengage in premarital sex, experience issues on early marriage, are involved in theft, gang war riots and drop out from school. Problems faced by parents with children ages 5 – below18 Parents of children ages 5 to 18 generally experience issues on poverty,employment (unstable jobs),and financial difficulty in providing for the basic needs (food and health) of their children, especially in sustaining their schooling. They also generally have a lack of awareness on children’s rights and on how to access programs for children from/by the GOs and NGOs.

Problems faced by youth ages 13 – 32 The youth of these areas lack vocational and basic livelihood skills and also have never undergone livelihood training. Their access to employment opportunities is markedly lower than those living in the more urban locations. There is also a lack of job opportunities within their immediate locale. Should they also go and apply for jobs with private institutions, they generally run the risk of being rejected owing to their religious affiliation (Islam), or their ethnic origin. Most employers favor hiring settlers than indigenous or moro. Problems faced by women, particularly ages 12 and above

Among the IPs, most of the women from age 12 or 13 beyond, marry early and were not able to continue schooling as they were believed to handle domestic tasks solely; in fact, as observed, in San Jose, majority are females that availed of our numeracy and literacy program as they desire to continue schooling even thru a nonformal mode (unfortunately, some husbands would not even allow their young wives to join our session as they fear that their wives may eventually leave them after acquiring “higher education”. ) Capacity & Stakeholders: Government agencies, NGOs and other sector bodies are working in the area for the development of these families DSWD is actively serving the people of our target barangays thru Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Feeding Program, and others. The City Health Officeregularly ensures the provision of Vitamin A and other medical needs of young children and expecting mothers, RD Foundationregularly performs medical missions and provides educational assistance, while microfinance/lending assistance is provided by Center for Community Transformation(CCT), Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD, Inc)., and the like. Attitudes: Although the disparity between rural and urban barangays in General Santos City in terms of level of development and access to basic social and public services is considerable, it promising to note that the present dispensation of local city government is forward looking and is committed to the principle and practice of intersectoral and inter stakeholder partnerships and convergences. Though their funding constraints prevents them from addressing the comparatively deplorable social conditions of rural barangays, the city government welcomes help and assistance from private and civil society groups to temporarily provide the lacking services. On the part of the local constituents of the appraised barangays, they are satisfied with the level of responsiveness of their barangay local government, but lament to the limitations that they can do to address perennial social ills therein. Civil society is likewise well organized in the city. Apparently, during the LCPC meetings and strategic planning workshop, there were various children’s organizations present. However, the level of capacity for interventions from one organization to another varies, as well as the focused area or the children subgrouping targeted by each. Though all are part of one network of CSOs or another, convergence on addressing the plight of children in rural areas having multicultural contexts is practically nonexistent.

FGD Results Expansion barangays Apopong Of the 27 puroks in Barangay Apopong, 9 are resided with Moro and IP populations. Almost one fourth(1/4) of the total number ofschoolaged children is not attending formal education and mostly resort to the numeracy and literacy program of Department of Education. This is partly due to scattered locations of the puroks which happened to be situated in seemingly isolated and mountainous areas. In the case of Purok Acop, the farthest one, the children have to walk 6 kilometers every day in going to school. This has led to the rising number of working children engaged in charcoal –making, buying and selling “botebakal”, cellophanevending in city markets, and other earned as jeepney conductors while other children are victims of dysfunctional families. They indulged in alcoholic drinking, premarital pregnancies and eventually commit theft. These children also became vulnerable to sexual abuse usually incest based on the Barangay Social Welfare Office last year, 2011. Common also is the early marriage among 15 year old IP and Moro female children. Unlike other barangays, Apopong was noted to gain several support fromGO and CSO partners in the previous year mostly educational and medical assistance. However, internally, the BCPC was just recently activated and received reorientation on committee functions and responsibilities by the members (including PASALI) of Local Council for the Protection of children (LCPC). Almost all puroks are considerably availing better access to drinking water from deep well. However, some parts of the barangay find it insufficient to meet the demand of the growing population. Accordingly, in partnership with the Barangay Council, certain NGO promised to install a 3Mworth of water system but remains unrealized up to date. 6

On the other hand, most children suffer from cough, colds, and fever. Illnesses like arthritis, diabetes, eye cataract, goiter and ovarian cyst (for women) are common among the adults including the elderly. Only the barangay health center offers free but limited medicines. Remarkably, women suffered from poor access to birthing facilities. The barangay has only one community birthing home. Aside from the continuing birth delivery at home that consequently resulted in the late or non registration of birth by mostly IP/Moro children, substantial 3 to 4 cases of maternal and infant mortality are recorded yearly. While access to health insurance (Phil health) has still to be improved. About 40% of poor families were not facilitated to avail of it. These families merely depend on fishing, carpentry, and driving motorcycles. Finally, the IPs’ Claim for their Ancestral Domain Title is still being processed. Presently, these lands are divided among and assumed by settlers. Bawing Bawing has its unique and varied social concerns. Convergence of sustainable efforts is needed to gradually address and sever the culture of mental poverty of people that affects their living condition. Noticeably, as indicated above, multicultural inhabitants abound in this community. The B’laans and T’bolis for instance are unfortunately situated in dumpsites working as scavengers. While the Badjaos who are known as the coastal folks, seemed to be unresponsive for change and miserably contented with its filthy and messy environment despite government and CSOs effort in organizing and facilitating them to improve their quality of life. These people customarily procrastinate through gambling which sadly became part of their way of life. Apparently, due to the abovecited conditions, the community in general can hardly move forward. Its local government unit is pouring out its best to gain various external supports in order to address issues on health and education, hence the concerted intervention of various government and non government organizations thru feeding, educational, and medical mission activities. However, due to lack of sustainability, problems on health and education still prevail. The barangay cannot accommodate all the children for immunization and deworming program. The lack of health facility (only one barangay health center and no birthing home) was pointed out as one of the causes of the rising cases of malnutrition among children hitting the highest case on 2008. Skin diseases and fever due to complications are also among the common disturbing health problems of children therein. Significantly, 4 died of tuberculosis last year due to unhealthy practice especially of adult IPs and Moros. Relatedly, Badjao village is known to incur a high infant mortality rate annually (average of 5 infant deaths) partly due to absence of a birthing facility. Access to education is as well poor. Around 25% of children, majority are IPs, have not attended or eventually dropped out from school for economic reasons and the far distance of the facilities ( 2 elementary and 1 high schools) from residence. The farthest purok (Kalpungal) measured 20 kilometers consuming almost 2 hours of ride (requiring P50.00/head as fare) on a single motorcycle to reach the school. Financially constraint, the parents will be eventually forced to succumb from their aspiration to provide better education for their children. Specifically, Badjao community suffered for poor access to water. They solely depend on the flowing (where on top of it is their cemetery) resulting to consequent diarrhea among the residents particularly children. Moreover, prevalence of dysfunctional family has led to the increasing cases of premarital pregnancies among 14 to 16 years old (common among Bisaya and Badjao children), drug addiction, and theft. Women, on the other hand, were prone to domestic violence by their husbands due to infidelity (while the latter were away for fishing to earn for living). The IPs’(B’laans) struggle for their Claim for Ancestral Domain Title has also resulted to the recent tribal conflict that cost lives of their loved ones. Also, nonregistration of births are significantly common for IPs and Moros as most of them are reluctant and in some cases, lack awareness on how to access such documents from the government. Sinawal Barangay Sinawal is considerably one of the barangays with low income constituents, dominantly IPs (Blaan). They worked as pineapple and corn farm laborers with high involvement of children (25%) and youth who have not gone or dropped from school due to financial constraints. Parents can hardly provide for the basic needs of children (foods, clothing and school supplies) that will eventually discouraged the latter from pursuing their studies.

Accordingly, per family have an average of 5 children and most women marry as early as 15yo. They engaged in premarital sex with young partners. Apparently this also affects children’s nutrition. Aside from problems on education and malnutrition particularly among IP families, they also have poor access to safe drinking water. They only generate their water from deep well (submersible pumps) and a certain remote purok depend solely on a spring. This water insufficiency has also affected the health of children as they became vulnerable to water borne disease like diarrhea (common also are fever and cough).While adults usually suffer from influenza, lung disease, arthritis and hypertension. The doctor only comes once a week on an irregular basis. Notably, only one barangay health center is present. The absence of other birthing health facility explains the continuing practice of birth delivery at home among women. So far, for 2011, only Rotary Club and Student Body Organization of Mindanao Polytechnic College initiated medical mission, relief operation and feeding among the indigent children and families. Parents were also observed to have low awareness on children’s rights. The BCPC as well, was considered nonfunctional as the barangay officials themselves poorly support children’s rights and programs. Upper Labay Around 20 % of the children are not attending elementary education and work as family helpers/farm laborers. This goes up to 25% children who were not able to proceed to High School and resort to being sales ladies and house maids in the city to augment family’s income. The distance of the school from house can also be one of the reasons of the declining rate of the schooling –going children. In the case of those who lives in purok 8, the farthest purok, the day care children has to walk 30 minutes to reach the school. While high school students have to walk for two (2) hours from the farthest purok. In general, there are about 50% of children below 18yo who are compelled to work or in the case of female children, they engage in premarital pregnancies and later are arranged for marriage as early as 12yo partly believing that they might escape life’s adversity. While others spent their time hanging around in the neighborhood while smoking, and worst is, there are few reported cases of ransack or theft by minors. The BCPC also is not active. There are even parents who do not know the rights of children. Only few external support was gained by BCPC from NGOs like RD Foundation, Compassion (religious group)both providing educational assistance and Sagitarius Mining Incorporated (which comes 3x last year for medical mission). The barangay also has only 1 midwife and no doctor except during “City Hall sa Barangay”.Recently, 7 Day Care children were diagnosed having TB disease. Commonly, they suffer from cough and cold. About 30% of the population has no PHIC. There are only more than 100 elderly are living from the total population who have poor access to water and with poor living condition (still working in the farm). Presently, majority of the people depend only on the spring water which is quite insufficient (available only during morning and afternoon). In fact, few children got LBM from drinking water from spring. There is an alternate source, a deep well owned by private individual. Folks of purok Paradise for instance have to walk 35 mins. to reach and pay an amount for the water from this deep well. A 4Ps survey was already conducted and it is hopefully to be implemented this year 2012. DSWD had been already operating in the place for the CASH for WORK. Each family receives P2,500.00. Some microfinance groups also offer loan opportunities. Farming and charcoalmaking are the main source of income of the people. On the average, families have 57 children. 2. Sarangani Location:

Scale & demographic data: Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east. The Province has a total land area of 4,100.42 square kilometers. Among the seven (7) municipalities comprising the province, Malungon has the largest land area (896.63 sq. km.) comprising 21.78% of the total land area of the province, followed by Glan (697.6 sq. km). Maitum, with only 324.35 sq. km is the province's smallest municipality with a 7.91% share of the provincial land area. Spoken languages: The population (305,321) of Sarangani is a mixture of people from various regions and tribes. The languages and dialects spoken by its people are likewise varied. Cebuano is the most widely spoken language, particularly in the municipalities of Alabel, Glan, Malapatan, and Malungon. In the municipalities of Maitum and Kiamba, Cebuano is second only to llocano as the most spoken dialect. The major dialects spoken by the ethnic groups include, among others, B'laan, Tagakaulo, Maguindanao, and T'boli. Number of SchoolGoing Children The province has a total of 123,428 children enrolled in primary and 52,619 for secondary education respectively as of 20102011. Ethnicity The B’laan tribe is mostly found in the rural barangays of General Santos City and in almost all of the municipalities of Sarangani province. The T’boli are mostly found in the boundaries of Sarangani and General Santos that face towards South Cotabato, as the T’boli ancestral area is found in Lake Sebu, Tampakan and T’boli, South Cotabato, the latter two municipalities directly bordering Sarangani and General Santos. In the expansion barangays, the distributions of ethnicity are as follows: Ethnicity IP Barangays

Barangay Kawas, Alabel Barangay Maguling, Maitum

B’ L A A N

M A N O B O

30% 15%

Moro T’ B O L I

T E D U R A Y S

M A G U I N.

T A U S U G

27% 38%

3% 12%

M A R A N A O

Christian B A D J A O

S A M A L

(Bicolano,Wa ray,Cebuano , Tagalog, Illongo, Ilocano)

40% 30%

Total

100% 100% 9

Barangay Tambilil, Kiamba Table 2

25%

40%

35%

100%

Status: The context of Sarangani province and General Santos City are practically same under this heading. As with General Santos City, the Settlers generally follow the norms of getting birth certificates for their children and marriage certificates for marriages. Issuance of birth certificates are quickly facilitated particularly if the births are made in licensed birthing facilities. But a good portion of the Moro populace and a large part of the indigenous tribes of the province do not observe this practice, both in applying for birth certificates and marriage certificates. Legal documentation of personal status and condition is regarded as a foreign practice and not part of their sociocultural way of life. For them, the legal bond is made through “word of honor”. In addition, almost all indigenous communities are remote in location from the province’s centers of socio economic activity and access routes. Traveling from their comparatively isolated locations to these centers is not only tedious, expensive and time consuming. In several cases, access to these communities can only be made by horse back or on foot. As a result, when time comes that they badly need to avail of social public health and education services provided by government, they have a hard time doing so. Only at this juncture do they work for the application of such birth and marriage certificates in order to avail of the public service provided by government, thus creating complications.

Access to Education: The context of Sarangani province and General Santos City are practically same under this heading. As with General Santos City, elementary and secondary education facilities (public schools) are generally present within and around the vicinity of the barangays identified for children aged 5 to 16 to go to. However, the issue is not on the presence or availability of basic public education facilities, but on the accessibility to these facilities. In several cases, children are required to walk between 30 to 45 minutes from their homes to the schools every day in order to avail of basic education. In addition, the roads and access routes of these barangays are usually undeveloped or underdeveloped. Concretization of roads are usually limited to the portion of the barangay where the local barangay hall is located, connecting this to the interconnecting routes leading to the poblacion or municipal center. Beyond this point, dirt roads abound. For those fortunate to find support for tertiary education, the only affordable public education facility within the general vicinity of the SOCSKSARGEN area is the Mindanao State University – General Santos City campus, located in Barangay Tambler of that city. At a rate of PHP50.00 per unit, the aspiring undergraduate can enroll and go to college. No other public tertiary education facility is found within that area. Problems and Protection concerns: BCPC Functionality The province has its own way of monitoring the BCPC functionality as follows: Basic, Progressive, Mature, and Ideal. Its effort on advocating children’s rights are apparent in most of the municipalities. Among the three expansion areas, the municipality of Maitum was excellently known on its being “Most Child Friendly Municipality” for two consecutive years (2008 and2009). However, affected by shifting (if not retained in the position) of political leaders every after election, it unsurprisingly lost its title. On the other hand, based on the result of the BCPC Assessment last May, 2011, Alabel has the poorest rate. Out of its 12 barangays, majority (10) rated only in the “Basic”Level of Functionality including Barangay Kawas as it is weak in most of the indicators/criteria. Finally, Kiamba is considerably on its much bettereffort (all of its barangays ) rated “mature” just needing minimal endeavor into becoming “Ideal”. The PCPC Concept

The concept of the Purok Council for the Protection of Children is yet nonexistent in the entire province. With PASALI’s possible expansion and intervention, PCPC will soon be introduced. Challenges faced on access to rights and services The level of support of the local officials to children’s program had largely contributed to the functionality or non functionality of BCPCs in the area as a whole. Problems faced by children ages 5 – below 18 In Sarangani, poor access to health and drinking water are also notable. This is largely attributed to the remoteness of the facilities from the communities where IPs and Moros thrive. Malnutrition and waterborne disease like diarrhea are encountered by the children. Similarly, illiteracy and incidence of school dropout are also issues that concern these ages. Problems faced by parents with children ages 5 – below18 Unemployment, lack of orientation on becoming responsible parents, lack of livelihood skills,and lack of information and knowledge on the accessibility of education and public health programs of the government and CSOs are the problems faced by parents with children ages 5 – below18. Problems faced by youth ages 13 – 32 Dropping out from school either due to lack of interest or lack of financial support by parents, lack of appropriate skill needed for employment, discrimination by the majority culture especially among IPs/Moros, engagement to premarital sex, alcoholic drinking and drug addiction. Problems faced by women, particularly ages 12 and above Early marriage, lack of seminar on responsible parenthood, poor access to educational and health that lead to the increasing infant and maternal mortality rate Capacity & Stakeholders: Government agencies, NGOs and other sector bodies are working in the area for the development of these families Sarangani is a privileged niche where CSOs converging to address various issues and concerns in theprovince. Aside from the government’s agencies (DSWD, DepEd, and the like) SPECTRUM, an organized network of CSOs is active in its social commitment to help alleviate the living condition of the people. Attitudes It is promising to note that the present dispensation of local provincial government of Sarangani is forward looking and is committed to the principle and practice of intersectoral and interstakeholder partnerships and convergences. Several social protection projects focused on children and their mothers have been initiated by the provincial government. Of note is their own version of the local conditional cash transfer program, which is geared to help the most remote locations of the province which the national cash transfer program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program have not yet entered into, or will enter into but in a year’s time or so. Though their funding constraints prevents them from addressing the comparatively deplorable social conditions of rural barangays, the provincial government welcomes help and assistance from private and civil society groups to temporarily provide the lacking services. On the part of the local constituents of the appraised barangays, they are satisfied with the level of responsiveness of their barangay local government, but lament to the limitations that they can do to address perennial social ills therein. Another issue is the comparatively lower level of technical knowhow that the people perceive their local government officials have in local governance. Civil society is likewise well organized in the province. Civil society organizations belong to either the Areabased Standards Network (ABSNET) SaranganiGeneral Santos, and/or to the Sarangani Province Empowerment for Community Transformation Forum (SPECTRUM). Both are civil society networks with social protection thrusts. Though all are part of one network of CSOs or another, convergence on addressing the plight of children in rural areas having multicultural contexts is practically nonexistent, with the exception of one or two shortterm, stand alone social service delivery activity in specific locations.

FGD Results Expansion barangays Barangay Kawas, Alabel Barangay Kawas has multicultured population (a total of 5, 167 based on the NSO,2007)composed of 25 % Maguindanaon, 15 % B’laan, and 60 % Bisaya. Two puroks are populated with B’laan families who are situated in the remote and mountainous part of the barangay. Weak access to basic social services is apparent as only 1 elementary and high school respectively are present in the area. While only 3 day care centers are established to cater the children aged 4 to 5 years old from 15 puroks. Attributed to the increasing percentage (2025%) of outofschool children (particularly B’laans) of the barangay are the far distance and the inability to provide for the daily fare and allowances of the school going children. Accessible by a single motorcycle, the children will travel daily for about 15 minutes through rocky and mountainous roads to get to the school and pay P80.00/child fare for a just 1way ride. Consequently, these outofschool children will end up working in the farms. In addition, jet matic pumps are used widely by the people as source of their drinking water. Only the barangay health center is available to cater for the medical concerns of the dominant poor population. The governmentpaid doctor comes only once a week. Fever and colds are the common illnesses among children (6 years old and below). Majority of the problematic children engaged in premarital sex as early as 15 years old. While others are addicted to computer games, alcoholic drinking and smoking. Barangay Maguling, Maitum Only 58% out of 193 children aging 35 years old are enrolled in DCC, only 68% ( 96 out of 142)children aging 0 2yo are weighed monthly and 59 out of 88 pregnant women are immunized against tetanus,89% (482 out of 541) families have access to safe drinking water and only 80% use sanitary toilet. The barangay is quite inaccessible creating pressure among the residents especially Moros, avail immediate basic social services. Common health problems among the children aging 6 years old and below are malnutrition and skin irritations. While those of 7 years old and above, aside from illiteracy, schoolgoing children are at risks of being not able to continue their studies due to financial constraints. Mostly, these children help their parents in the farm and household chores instead.Most of the households solely depend on water pumps for their drinking water making them susceptible to diarrhea and other waterborne diseases. Barangay Tambilil, Kiamba About 25% children are not going to school and 60% worked as farm laborers (copra, palay, and corn); despite the presence of elementary and high school facilities; few cases of children physically injured by family members were noted, most of the children below 18 years old engage in drug addiction, alcohol drinking and theft, IPs aging 1314 years old are into premarital sex already. On the average, per family have 4 children. Women marry as early as 16 years old. Access to safe drinking water is poor as dominant of the households depend on pitcher pumps (within the house). Same is true with accessibility to health facility. The barangay has no doctor of its own (no lying in and no doctor’s clinic)people seek medical attention from municipal doctor; they still seek help from traditional healers when sick. Further, most of the children suffer from cough, skin irritation, and asthma while adults are also prone to cough, arthritis, and hypertension. Expectant mothers has to travel for about 20 minutes to reach the municipal birthing home. There are a few cases of women losing their babies at birth. Significantly, only 20% are senior citizens in the community who also live in a poor environment with less access on government basic social services. Moro and settlers register their children’s birth as compliance to school requirements and there is a large portion of IPs who needs assistance in complying birth registration requirements. Residents are quite aware on the value of sanitation. They use latrine. Usually they eat rice, kamote, cassava, vegetables, and ownraised livestocks (e.g. chicken) and fish, and retain traditional practice of gathering food from swamps like “kangkong”. 12

3. Sultan Kudarat Location

Palimbang and its neighboring areas

Palimbang up close Scale and demographic data: Palimbang is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Sultan Kudarat, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 43,742 people in 8,191 households. Almost half (47%) of the province’s population are children. For the year 2008, there are approximately 323, 800 children 017 years old in Sultan Kudarat. Spoken languages: Mixed population is found in Sultan Kudarat Province. In Palimbang alone, Maguindanaon is widely spoken by the people followed by Bisaya, Ilonggo, B’laan, and Manobo. Number of SchoolGoing Children

For the school year 20082009, a total of 104, 686 school children were enrolled in 431 public and 15 private elementary schools in the province. Secondary school enrolment for both public and private totaled to 44, 084. These children attend school in the 51 public and 29 private secondary schools found within the municipality. Ethnicity Different ethnic tribes are present in Palimbang such as B’laans, Tedurays, and Manobos constitute approximately twenty (20) percent of the provinces total population (NSO). The Teduray and Manobo tribes are found mostly in the highlands of Palimbang, Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Bagumbayan, Esperanza, Lebak, and Kalamansig while B’laans can be found in Lutayan and Columbio. In the expansion barangays, the distributions of ethnicity are as follows: Ethnicity Moro

IP Barangays

Barangay Kanipaan Barangay Dumolol Barangay Napnapon Table 3

B’ L A A N

M A N O B O

2% 30% 30%

T’ B O L I

T E D U R A Y S

M A G U I N.

43% 10% 20%

T A U S U G

10%

M A R A N A O

Christian B A D J A O

S A M A L

(Bicolano,Waray ,Cebuano, Tagalog, Illongo, Ilocano)

55% 60% 40%

Total

100% 100% 100%

Status: The context of Sultan Kudarat province, Sarangani province and General Santos City are practically same under this heading. As with Sarangani and General Santos City, the Settlers of the province generally follow the norms of getting birth certificates for their children and marriage certificates for marriages. Issuance of birth certificates are quickly facilitated particularly if the births are made in licensed birthing facilities. But a good portion of the Moro populace and a large part of the indigenous tribes of the province do not observe this practice, both in applying for birth certificates and marriage certificates. Legal documentation of personal status and condition is regarded as a foreign practice and not part of their sociocultural way of life. For them, the legal bond is made through “word of honor”. In addition, almost all indigenous communities are remote in location (upland areas) from the province’s centers of socio economic activity and access routes. Traveling from their comparatively isolated locations to these centers is not only tedious, expensive and time consuming. In several cases, access to these communities can only be made by horse back or on foot. Also, there are three municipalities of Sultan Kudarat (Palimbang, Lebak, and Kalamansig) that are coastal and are very much distant from the main cluster of municipalities of the province, as well as the provincial center in Isulan. For one to travel from Isulan to Palimbang, one must pass through South Cotabato province to the south, then General Santos City, then the western corridor of Sarangani Province before finally reaching Palimbang. For one to travel to Kalamansig and Lebak from Isulan, one must pass through central Maguindanao to the north, almost reaching the borders of Cotabato City at Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat, before turning southwest to the Upi area of Maguindanao before finally reaching Kalamansig. Palimbang and Kalamansig face each other over the Celebes Sea, which is an 8hour ride across by pump boat. As a result, when time comes that they badly need to avail of social public health and education services provided by government, they have a hard time doing so. Only at this juncture do they work for the application of such birth and marriage certificates in order to avail of the public service provided by government, thus creating complications. Access to Education: The context of Sultan Kudarat province, Sarangani province and General Santos City are practically same under this heading.

As with Sarangani province and General Santos City, elementary and secondary education facilities (public schools) are generally present within and around the vicinity of the barangays identified for children aged 5 to 16 to go to. However, the issue is not on the presence or availability of basic public education facilities, but on the accessibility to these facilities. In several cases, children are required to walk between 30 to 45 minutes from their homes to the schools every day in order to avail of basic education. In addition, the roads and access routes of these barangays are usually undeveloped or underdeveloped. Concretization of roads are usually limited to the portion of the barangay where the local barangay hall is located, connecting this to the interconnecting routes leading to the poblacion or municipal center. Beyond this point, dirt roads abound. For those fortunate to find support for tertiary education, the only affordable public education facility within the general vicinity of the SOCSKSARGEN area is the Mindanao State University – General Santos City campus, located in Barangay Tambler of that city. At a rate of PHP50.00 per unit, the aspiring undergraduate can enroll and go to college. No other public tertiary education facility is found within that area.

BCPC Functionality In general, BCPCs in the municipality of Palimbang are inactive despite government’s mandate. People even have no concept on what BCPC is and how it functions. Hence, the need for our intervention. The PCPC Concept The concept of the Purok Council for the Protection of Children is yet nonexistent in the entire province. With PASALI’s possible expansion and intervention, PCPC will soon be introduced. Challenges faced on access to rights and services The level of support of the local officials to children’s program had largely contributed to the functionality or non functionality of BCPCs in the area as a whole. Problems faced by children ages 5 – below 18 Poor health condition among children aging 5 to 9 years old is observed. Children apparently lack proper medical attention like immunization and deworming during their infancy. While children who nearly reach the finish line to exit from the portal of elementary education and those who are aspiring to avail secondary education are at risk of being affected to the family’s economic hardship. Hence, ending up being parents’ right hand to assist household chores or attend to younger siblings. While others work in the neighboring urban areas as housemaids or nannies. Problems faced by parents with children ages 5 – below18 Parents of children aging 518 below are generally struck with combination of problems. Financially, they fear of being unable to sustain the latters’ growing demand for education due to income insufficiency.Psychosocially, unlike parents of settlers (Christians)due to lack of awareness on the rights and welfare of children, they might not be able to guide, understand, and provide the needs of the latter especially those entering the period of puberty that are entitled to enjoy their being. Problems faced by youth ages 13 – 32 The lack of opportunity to enjoy the benefit of being teenagers (13 19yo) unlike those in the urban areas, illiteracy/low educational attainment, lack of livelihood trainings and skills, and unemployment are among the leading problems of youth ages 13 – 32 particularly IPs and Moros. Problems faced by women, particularly ages 12 and above IP women, in particular, as early as 12 years old and above are deemed as domestic objects. They are deprived of availing or furthering their studies. Without or lack of proper orientation, they are force to perform heavy duties expected of being a wife and a mother. Biologically, their lives also are at risk especially during pregnancy (12 and below 18 years old) and child birth delivery. Attributed to the absence of a health facility within the community, these women are also deprived of the right to receive prenatal and postnatal checkups. 15

Capacity & Stakeholders: Government agencies, NGOs and other sector bodies working in the area for the development of these families The DSWD’s CCT and Social Pension are catering the poor families and senior citizens. PASALI, in partnership with line Department of Agriculture, largely contributed to the agricultural development in the area. In addition, education of IP children was made accessible through the advocacy and networking effort of PASALI with DSWD and Department of Education. Attitudes Though he present dispensation of local provincial government of sultan Kudarat is young and known to be forward looking, it is heavily influenced by the traditional politicians of the previous administration. Nevertheless, in principle, they are committed to intersectoral and interstakeholder partnerships and convergences. Though their funding constraints prevents them from addressing the comparatively deplorable social conditions of rural barangays, the provincial government welcomes help and assistance from private and civil society groups to temporarily provide the lacking services. On the part of the local constituents of the appraised barangays, they are satisfied with the level of responsiveness of their barangay local government, but lament to the limitations that they can do to address perennial social ills therein. Another issue is the comparatively lower level of technical knowhow that the people perceive their local government officials have in local governance. Civil society is not as organized as those in South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces. But there are well established NGOs that are based in General Santos City, Koronadal City, and even as far as Cotabato City that have implemented and are still implementing projects in several communities in the province. FGD Results Expansion barangays in Palimbang, SK Barangay Dumolol Barangay Dumolol has almost similar social concerns with the neighboring barangays. Manobo children from Sitio Kidupong invest sweat in hiking daily just to reach the 1.5 hour elementary school located at the center of the barangay. High school children on the other hand, have to walk for couple of hours or more to avail secondary education at the other neighboring barangay. This poor access to education affects the increasing number of out ofschool children (about 20%25%) especially those dwelling upland. Sadly, there is no existing government program on Basic Literacy or Alternative Learning System that could have saved these children from toiling in the farm and getting married early (among the IPs), drug addiction, alcoholism, smoking, and premarital pregnancy (among the Christian children). Absence of a health facility combined with poor access to safe drinking water also adds up to the people’s burden especially during emergency situation. They still have to traverse their patients through the 20 minuteride municipal clinic where the doctor is available. However, the facility is poor enough to confine and accommodate the patients for thorough medical attention. Several cases of infant or children’s death were reported due to dehydration and complications as immediate medical action was not provided. Barangay Napnapon PASALI chose Barangay Napnapon because it is where its model IP community (Sitio Biao) is located. Sitio Biao has 1 Day Care Center and Elem School (Gr 13) facilitated by PASALI for recognition in Department of Social Welfare Office and Department of Education. The children have to walk for almost 1 hour from neighboring puroks to school at Sitio Biao. On the average, per family has 89 children (1 wife) and 15 for multiple wives (23). Cases on premarital pregnancies are common among IPs. Usually, women marry at age 15yo. Last two years ago, 4 women lost their babies at birth. While 1 woman died of giving birth. Children below 18 years old encounter problems on lack of educational supplies, slippers, and nutritious foods. Fortunately, there is no report on children being apprehended for any major offense. From uphill, the police station

can be reached for 2 hours (7 kms.) hike down to the poblacion, while the barangay health center is accessible for a 3.5 hr. walk (14 kms). The residents encounter some negative experiences since they became beneficiaries of 4Ps. Recently, they discover removal of some names from the list if concerned beneficiaries are not present during/upon release of the 4Ps allowances. Notably, Cash for Work by DSWD in the community is not present despite the economic condition of the people and availability of community farm lands in the area suitable for agricultural activity. Moreover, people have to walk for half kilometer to fetch drinking water from spring. Sadly, last 2008, many died of cholera dominantly children (27). Aside from rice, corn, camote, vegetables, chicken/ducks, pork, and fish, the residents also produced food from bamboo shoots, mush rooms, and “paco”. Milk is not properly introduced to kids as parents are financially unstable to provide for it. Children commonly suffer from diseases like cough, colds, fever, diarrhea, dizziness, stomachache, sore eyes, blindness (1:3 children), asthma, and physical disability (2 cases). Same illnesses also are suffered by adults including cataract, arthritis,tumor, and hypertension. Processing of Claim for ancestral domain thru PASALI is on going. Main source of income are farming (corn/rice), backyard gardening, and carpentry averagely earning P4,000.00P6,000.00 monthly. Families mostly dwell in small houses made of bamboo and nipa huts or cogon grass. Barangay Kanipaan Barangay Kanipaan is also a niche of a mixed ethnicities of people. Comprising the majority are the settlers with 55%, second in line are the 43 % Maguindanaons, and 2% are the migrating Manobos from uphill who avail of the secondary education at the Poblacion of the municipality. In total, 25 % of the schoolaged children are not attending school due to financial constraints and losing their interest as neglected by OFW parents. Large part of them seeks refuge to drug dependency, alcoholism, smoking, and simply loitering around the neighborhood. In most cases, female children as early as 14 years old end up being single mothers while other male children are forced to help their parents in farm and fishing activities. As to then accessibility to education, this is poorly illustrated on the presence of only 1 elementary school and absence of high school facility in the area and only 2 day care centers to accommodate 4 to 5 years old children for preschool education. Aspiring high school children labor for a 3 km. hike daily to reach the high school facility in Milbuk, the neighboring barangay. Poor access to safe drinking water is also putting people’s lives at risk. Both children and adults became prone to diarrhea as they get their water from shallow well. Sitio Donation residents have to spend 1 km walk just to fetch water from the well. Sick people hardly get immediate medical support and attention as only 1 health facility exists in the area. Aside from the medical doctor’s absence, affordable medicines are available only from the other adjacent barangay making them, especially children; suffer from fever due to complications and/ or infections. Sadly, half of the population is not facilitated by the government to avail of the health insurance while only 1 medical mission was given by the local government last year. The only NGO present in the area is PASALI Philippines Foundation that is deeply concerned with the tripeople empowerment. Specifically, it provides the appropriate livelihood trainings for the youth who were not able to continue their schooling. It also addresses the farmers’ concerns and alleviates their living condition through its program on Farm Support Scheme and practice on Systems of Rice/ Corn Intensification.