HIGHLIGHTS OF THE COMMUNITY AND PROGRAM MONITORING VISIT


1. Collaborative Meetings with Partners


Meeting with Local Chief Executive

SBCBEFI Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB, and SBU-CEC Director, Norielyn C. Tabag, during the meeting with the Municipality of Bauko’s Local Chief Executive, Hon. Engr. Abraham B. Akilit, Ph.D. in his office on February 15, 2022. Hon. Akilit expressed his appreciation about the SBCBEFI initiatives in the municipality which include the livelihood of the Saint Bede Mushroom and Vegetable Growers Association in Sitio Pactil, Barangay Monamon Sur. Further emphasized that the LGU as well provides other relevant training to ensure continued upskilling of the association. He commended the technology developed on mushroom and potato chips production and look forward to a continuous operation that has temporarily stopped due to the pandemic.





On the other hand, Hon. Akilit recognized the MOM for Moms project which has helped the community health workers to perform antenatal risk stratification to pregnant women by extending diagnostic assistance to assess the progress of pregnancies with the use of mobile devices i.e., lumify ultrasound, thereby ensuring enhanced maternal care in the community. As of the moment, there is one existing device utilized by the 22 barangays and some referrals from nearby towns.


Meeting with Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer and Social Workers

The Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer, Miss Marichu B. Cominga, received SBCBEFI Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB, and SBU-CEC Director, Norielyn C. Tabag, to her Office on February 15, 2022. Brief introductions about the new Officers were facilitated and were followed with the affirmation of the continued engagement in the municipality. MSWDO plays a very important role in the eventual sustainability of the SBCBEFI initiatives which are anchored in the municipal development plan particular to basic social services. Furthermore, it extends its service through case management which includes monitoring considering the proximity of the program implementers to its beneficiaries. More importantly, MSWDO issues certification on the SBCBEFI programs and services which are essential to smooth program implementation and accreditation reporting purposes.



(2nd from the left, Miss Marichu B. Cominga, MSWDO
with the two Social Welfare Officers 1st and fourth from the left)



Meeting with the Rural Health Unit


Two small group meetings were conducted with the members of the Rural Health Unit of Bauko. The first meeting was held in the main station in Poblacion where the Family Planning Coordinator, Ms. Welma, showed the written reports for MOM for Moms project. Ms. Welma T. Maris, has generously shared how the project helped them in providing prenatal care to pregnant women utilizing the lumify ultrasound. Accordingly, the lumify ultrasound detects the progress and potential risks of pregnancies thus it can be addressed in early stage which leads toward a reduced maternal mortality rate that includes neonatal death and maternal death in the municipality. Since the equipment has to move from one barangay to another, the use of doppler and stethoscope are utilized which has limited function compared to lumify ultrasound.



Another meeting with the Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Samuel Moses O. Masidong, transpired in the Sub-station in Barangay Sadsadan, Bauko on that same day. Dr. Masidong confirmed the reports on how the MOM for Moms project contributed to the health care system. He further shared that the midwives/health workers gained improved knowledge and skills particular to pregnancies as they can identify risk pregnancies, ability to compare the expected delivery dates, easier and faster identification of the location of the fetal head, heartbeat, position, number of the fetus and the use of a transducer. But he recommended continued re-training with a focus on the use of digital technology since most midwives/health care workers are not too familiar with the use of android mobile devices used.


On the other hand, Dr. Masidong emphasized that Rural Health Unit has increased patient engagement with 89.30% lumified pregnant women with improved efficacy of high-risk pregnancies, strengthened remote monitoring of high-risk pregnancies and sustained antenatal care in the municipality. Notably, the extended service delivery of prenatal health care to other municipalities in the province. Pregnant women were referred to avail lumify ultrasound in RHU Bauko since they are the only Rural Health Unit with such equipment.








2. Collaborative Meetings with Program Beneficiaries

One-on-one interview session with SBCBEFI scholar, Lalyn A. Bongsian


SBCBEFI Executive Director, Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB, also meet with its program beneficiary, Lalyn A. Bongsian, on February 15, 2022. She is an active youth leader in the Holy Family Catholic Mission Station and an Agriculture student majoring in Plant Pathology in Benguet State University. She sought the assistance from SBCBEFI to support her thesis requirement entitled Identification of Resistance and Tolerance to Potato Cyst Nematode in Potato Cultivars Grown in Cordillera Administrative Region. The thesis is a study of the diseases of the nine varieties of potatoes planted in the municipality which are often experienced by the vegetable growers. Thus, her study will help the vegetable growers how to address their concerns about potato diseases. Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB encouraged the scholar to finish the research study despite the two occasions of discontinued experiments brought about by pandemic and recently, the frost in the province. He further challenged that scholar to have it published with the assistance of the SBCBEFI.





Meeting with the Saint Bede Mushroom and Vegetable Growers


Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB was able to meet the officers and members of Saint Bede Mushroom and Vegetable Growers Association, an association of vegetable growers organized in August 2013 after the series of seminars and trainings on mushroom and potato chips production sponsored by SBCBEFI.  The association was delighted meeting Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB as the new SBCBEFI Executive Director. Thus, they are looking forward to a continued support for the association will be guided accordingly while it is gradually being prepared for the eventual turn-over to the local government unit. Nevertheless, Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB assured the association that SBCBEFI will ensure continued support and assistance while the gradual phase-out is being facilitated.





3. Eucharistic Celebrations

Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB celebrated two Holy masses, one in the Holy Family Catholic Mission Station after the series of meetings with the partners on February 15, 2022. SBCBEFI scholar, Lalyn A. Bongsian, actively served as Lector.






Another Eucharistic celebration was held on February 16, 2022 at St. Benedict’s Chapel in Sitio Pactil, Barangay Monamon Sur after the conclusion of meetings of the day





4. Wrapping-up and Send-off

On February 17, 2022, the team bid it goodbyes to the community for this scheduled visit. Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB conveyed his appreciation to Rev. Fr. George de Castro, SVD for the hospitality in hosting the team during the entire stay in Bauko. In turn, Rev. Fr. Placido M. Acta, OSB expressed its support to the parish initiatives. He also extended assistance to aid the projects and activities of the parish.






Some community representatives of the St. Benedict Chapel in Sitio Pactil also sent off the team on their way back to Manila.






"Today's service for future generations."