I.PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT and COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Ending December 31, 2008, a total of Eighty Three (83) associations, cooperatives, BAWASA (barangay water association) were organized and strengthened in covered municipalities by the program. Majority of these cooperatives are engaging into consumers and marketing ventures of which some are also into micro-finance implementation.
XAES also became the lead consultant of the barangay development planning in selected 10 barangays in the municipality of Ipil, as well as in the facilitation in the reformulation of the two Executive Legislative Agenda of the municipalities of Ipil and Tungawan of Zamboanga Sibugay. The organization through its Executive Director is also active in its participation in the local development council both at the regional and provincial council.
II. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULUTURE AND FARMERS ASSISTANCE
Approximately 180 hectares of upland farms were fully developed applying the sustainable agriculture technology (contour farms)and a total of 357 hectares of farmlands has been planted with quality budded rubber seedlings. The organization has been assisting 750 upland farmers to increase their income by providing loans for draft animals (150 heads), swine (300 heads), and seedlings of fruit trees( 1,500) and vegetables seeds primarily grown for good nutrition and also other sources of income.
III. BASIC SOCIAL SERVICE DELIVERY (HEALTH)
The organization facilitated in the installation of 3 level II water systems in three barangays and two level II type of water system has been rehabilitated and improved benefiting a total of 4,800 individuals for the year 2008. Aside from the potable water system provided, XAES also extended 50 units of sanitary toilets servicing 50 households in the same barangays.
IV. COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (In the context of Climate Change)
Seven fisherfolk organizations have been strengthened to help address the dwindling fishery resources contributing to low fist catch in the municipal waters. The fishermen in Kabasalan and Ipil municipalities through their active participation and involvement of the two projects implemented by XAES with funding support from the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation.
The REDEEM Sibugay Bay project facilitated the rehabilitation of the denuded coastal environment and mangrove areas in Sibugaey bay and the PROTECT (Participatory Rehabilitation of Over-Exploited Mangrove through Environment friendly, Community driven and Technically Sound Strategy).
A total of 180 hectares of newly planted mangroves accounting to 1,800,000 propagules planted, and 400 hectares protected. The tenurial instrument is co-management agreement and based on the early signs, local fish species, mollusks, as well as shells are abound again.
In terms of mitigating the impact of climate change, mangrove is the first line of defense in storm surge along the coast. And mangrove species has the highest capacity of carbon sequestration mechanism than any other tree species.
Through these two projects, linkage and support from other stakeholders were gained, such as national high-school of Ipil and Universidad de Zamboanga students are doing mangrove planting activities during their NSTP and also, the Parole and Probation under the Department of Justice are utilizing their prisoners to plant mangrove trees within the project sites using the mangrove nurseries of the project.
V. ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT / PRODUCT VALUE-ADDING
Starting November 2008, a pioneer enterprise of XAES was launched. The goats milk had facilitated the initiation of a milk feeding program for 56 malnourished elementary school children in partnership with the Department of Education and the Municipal LGU of Ipil.
The milk production started producing 6 liters a day and now has reaches to 30 liters of milk daily. This milk product reaches as far as Zamboanga City , Dipolog and Cagayan de Oro City.
XAES is also engage into Calamansi Marketing by providing assistance to Calamansi farmers in marketing their fresh calamansi and processed calamansi products (calamansi puree) in selected market outlets in Mindanao and Metro Manila.