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| (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
De La Salle Lipa (DLSL), through its NSTP (National Service Training Program) department, has been actively involved in community projects in the province. Recently, it initiated a three-year community development endeavor as part of the HOPE (Health, Occupation, Poverty Reduction, Education) initiative, focusing on lakeshore communities in the municipality of Mataas Na Kahoy, Batangas.
The project began in April 2022 with a Needs Assessment and Resource Management Planning in collaboration with the three recipient Barangays – Lakeshore Communities, Nangkaan, Lumanglipa, and Kinalaglagan, as well as the Municipal Government of Mataas Na Kahoy, the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO). The project's formalization was marked by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between DLSL and the Mataas Na Kahoy Municipal LGU last July 17, 2023 at the town's Municipal Hall. Subsequently, fishnet beneficiaries from the town's three lakeshore communities and a designate from the Department of Tourism (DOT) participated in a consultation and feasibility conceptualization session at the Nexus Innovation Labs in the DLSL campus. Discussions with Barangay officials and community members regarding their roles and responsibilities continued in the following months.
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| (Image Source: De La Salle Lipa) |
The project was solidified with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DLSL, represented by Assistant Vice Chancellor Dr. Tessie Palma, and the beneficiaries from Barangay Kinalaglagan and Lumanglipa, represented by Barangay Captain Cesar Recio and Barangay Captain Novelito Manalo, witnessed by Hon. Mayor Janet M. Ilagan last December 5, 2023. DLSL recently signed an MOA with Barangay Nangkaan last April 14, 2024. As a result, these Barangays received and will receive funds for the purchase of ten fishnets and materials for fishnet-making which the beneficiaries themselves sewed and will continue to produce and put into use. In total, Barangay Nangkaan received financial assistance amounting to Php275,000. Of this, Php70,000 was allocated for fishnets and Php205,000 for a boat. Meanwhile, Lumanglipa received Php75,000 worth of fishnets to support ten fishermen who are currently focusing on 'bangus' production. Similarly, Barangay Kinalaglagan received Php60,000 to aid fifteen fishermen who are cultivating 'tilapia' produce. Moreover, to enhance its support for the lakeshore community, DLSL invited the fisherfolk to showcase and sell their local produce free of charge at the NSTP Booth of HOPE during the university's Foundation Week celebration in February 2024. Additionally, they were encouraged to sell their products at the institution’s cooperative store.
DLSL aims to establish a sustainable cooperative organization within these communities by the project's conclusion, providing guidance and education on livelihood management for their long-term benefit. The institution's strong community involvement campaign and activities have had a positive impact on the larger community, as acknowledged in the recent Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Internationalization Awards. Every Lasallian in Lipa is committed to fostering meaningful social reform, guided by Lasallian values that prioritize quality education for empowering sustainable communities within society. ANIMO!!
(With words by Cristina Alfarita Larombi, De La Salle Lipa)
