6 research outputs found
Institutional resiliency: traditional rural labor institutions and rural industrialization in two Philippine villages
No full textThis study examined why traditional labor institutions change and remain resilient in two farming villages in the Philippines with the establishment of a special economic zone (SEZ) in the area. The study focused on the institution of hunusan in rice harvesting. Specifically, this paper aims to describe the importance and benefits of traditional labor institutions, identify possible factors for change and resiliency and illustrate some implications. This study utilized both qualitative and quantitative methods as data were gathered through surveys, key informant interviews and field observations. The establishment of a SEZ in the town of Marvels resulted in the diversification of livelihoods and increased preference of laborers to work in construction and SEZ, which, in turn, resulted to the difficulty of finding farm laborers, changes in farming practices, preference to be paid in wages and changes in traditional labor institutions in the villages. This study argues that traditional institutions provide benefits and can be resilient by accommodate changes. This is contrary to the view that such institutions are autonomically replaced by market-based exchanges with industrialization and modernization. This study suggests that the resiliency of traditional institutions depends on their ability to reduce the risks and provide returns to people and their ability to adjust with the changing economic environment without changing its underlying norms
Evaluating inter-local government cooperation and governance in the Philippines: The case of the MNDC, the MMDA, and the Metro BLIST
No full textLocal governance in the country is constantly changing since the passage of the Local Government Code. Inter-local government cooperation (ILGC) is an innovative form of local governance which is being adopted by an increasing number of local government units in the urban and rural areas of the country. Entering into an ILGC may help the local government units to enhance their service provision through economies of scale improved their planning and governance by pooling and complementing their resources resolve cross-boundary problems and address their shared local problems together. Different forms of inter-local government cooperation may display unique characteristics in terms of scope and nature and in terms of the services and programs that they provide. One thing that is constant is that these arrangements are about relationships between political entities and its creation and functions involve political processes among LGUs, national officials and different local stakeholders. ILGC in the country, however, is still in its infant stages of development. There is still much to learn about the motives and the factors that are involved in the creation and function of such kind of governmental arrangement. Furthermore, it is yet to learn how ILGC relates to other form of governments such as the LGUs, provincial governments, and the national government. This study has looked at the cases of Metro Naga Development Council, the Metro Manila Development Authority and the BLIST. It focused on the description of the creation of ILGC and how it performs its services and programs. This study is also concerned in identifying the different motives and factors that may enable or constrain the ILGC. Based on the cases examined, ILGC is created to address the common needs of the LGUs. The cases also highlighted the important roles of leadership, enabling laws, national government support, and the sense of ownership, in the creation and functions of the 3 ILGC cases
Bridging and bonding social capital for sustainable technology adoption, the Landcare program in the resource poor rural town of Claveria, Philippines
No full textThe important role of bonding and bridging social capital in technology adoption has been well documented. This holds true in the dissemination of soil conservation technologies in the town of Claveria under the Landcare program. Past studies unanimously attribute high adoption rates to the formation of farmer Landcare groups, which is a form of bonding social capital, and to the provision of human and physical resources through external networks, a form of bridging social capital. After more than 20 years since the project ended in the town, this study unpacks this relationship and illustrates how the two types of social capital are complementary for sustained technology adoption. Data from household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews illustrate that the training and physical resources provided through external organizations and partnerships greatly contributed to program participation and high adoption rates of technologies. When such external organizations left the town, adoption rates fell and some farmers reverted to their traditional farm practices. These findings contribute to the debate on the complementation of the two types of social capital in sustaining adoption as well as illustrate how the two types relate to each other for sustainable rural development programs
Challenges and Strategies in Optimizing the Calamansi Value Chain in Small Island Agribusiness: A Case Study of Homonhon Island, Philippines
No full textCalamansi (Citrofortunella macrocarpa W.) is a top crop in the small island communities in Homonhon Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines, with significant production and potential for adding value. However, due to their isolation, scarcity of resources, and exposure to climate and natural disasters, Homonhon’s calamansi farmers are more vulnerable to economic and environmental problems. In this paper, we analyze the calamansi value chains on the small island of Homonhon. Examination of the product, information, and payment flow of an island-based value chain from the input supply sector, production, and trading until the products are delivered to the end consumers was done. We conducted key informant interviews (KIIs) with diverse participants, including farmers, assemblers, traders, and other institutional buyers, to comprehensively understand the calamansi value chain. The Dephi methods was employed to gain deeper insights into strategies and assess the feasibility of interventions within the value chain. Results showed a huge gap in the supply of calamansi in the region. In the island-based value chain, product perishability, market size, farmer’s income are all negatively impacted by the island\u27s environmental restrictions, lack of processing facilities, and high transportation costs. Payment methods vary within the value chain, with cash and credit terms in the upstream and cash preferred downstream. These findings highlight the need for improvements in production practices, communication, and processing capacity, emphasizing the importance of government support and stakeholder cooperation. Furthermore, the identified challenges within the value chain highlight the necessity for improvement in post-harvest technologies, value addition through processing, and market diversification to enhance the overall competitiveness and profitability throughout the entire value chain
Local Narratives on the Adoption of Mango Integrated Crop Management Technologies in Samal Island, Philippines
No full textThe adoption of agricultural technologies is imperative in improving the performance of the local agriculture sector in the Philippines. Numerous technology-based development projects have been implemented across the country. The Mango ICM project was one of these interventions. It was carried out in the Island Garden of Samal, Davao del Norte (IGaCoS) with the objective of supporting the local mango industry through the promotion of environmentally sustainable technologies. Years since project completion, challenges have been raised in relation to technology adoption. To understand the adoption dynamics in IGaCoS, this study dissects the complex nature of the Mango ICM technologies and the perception and reception of the local producers towards them. This study is grounded on the narratives gathered through a series of in-depth interviews with key informants and local mango producers. Results show that although the potential benefits of the extended technologies were recognized, the existing local labor and market arrangements created barriers to technology adoption. The nature of technology, market arrangement, and financial constraints were the identified reasons for the non-adoption of the local mango producer
Local Narratives on the Adoption of Mango Integrated Crop Management Technologies in Samal Island, Philippines
No full textThe adoption of agricultural technologies is imperative in improving the performance of the local agriculture sector in the Philippines. Numerous technology-based development projects have been implemented across the country. The Mango ICM project was one of these interventions. It was carried out in the Island Garden of Samal, Davao del Norte (IGaCoS) with the objective of supporting the local mango industry through the promotion of environmentally sustainable technologies. Years since project completion, challenges have been raised in relation to technology adoption. To understand the adoption dynamics in IGaCoS, this study dissects the complex nature of the Mango ICM technologies and the perception and reception of the local producers towards them. This study is grounded on the narratives gathered through a series of in-depth interviews with key informants and local mango producers. Results show that although the potential benefits of the extended technologies were recognized, the existing local labor and market arrangements created barriers to technology adoption. The nature of technology, market arrangement, and financial constraints were the identified reasons for the non-adoption of the local mango producer
