Pedagogy: Development of Community-Based Learning in the Municipality of President Roxas

Photo courtesy of Fidesco USA

Covid-19 pandemic has taught us one important age-old lesson – we are all vulnerable to the whims of nature. It has affected our routines that our systems are adapting towards more sustainable means of operations, which is deeply related to technology. As for the folks who lack access to modern facilities, the technological gap can only be closed by one core value – Synergy.

Synergy is a concept of “working together” towards a goal. It aims to start by up-skilling the human capital to match the planned future industries in the municipality and beyond.

Urban Geography is a new concept for me, but it can definitely help in the future. As a planned loci of development in the municipality, synergy in education is aimed at bridging stakeholders from local level to global level, by emphasizing the praxis of “local to global” narrative. In the future, it may try to revolve around the three aspects of modern pedagogy: People, Profit, and Environment.

Beema Bamboo: Agribusiness overview for the Municipality of President Roxas (A Concept Art)

Photo courtesy of Google Images.

Hilly parts of the Municipality of President Roxas have been experiencing numerous landslides in the previous years. This is a prevailing problem that can be mitigated by developing modern technologies in these areas, with focus on bamboo production. Marinduque State College is currently championing the production of Beema Bamboo, which is a highly productive species for various industrial productions. President Roxas, aside from developing its local economics, can also beef up one necessary aspect of bamboo – Versatility.

Wasara©-style Utensils

Japan is a great benchmark in developing their limited natural resources into products of feature and function. They have developed their bamboo resources into sustainable products, especially for their thriving culinary industry. The Wasara© brand has been producing various utensils that can be used for catering and other events. The municipality can definitely take this as an inspiration in its future development projects.

Bamboo Fabric

As the population grows in the Philippines, more and more people are developing higher standards of living. This also means that textile demands will increase, specifically on fabrics. Other ASEAN countries have invested in the production of low-cost cloth production with focus on cotton fabrics. The Philippines, which has the second biggest population in ASEAN, has a young population that is starting to swing its focus towards sports. This drives the demand for sports-related fabrics, which can be filled by the bamboo industry in the country. Bamboo fabric has more efficacy than cotton.

Bamboo Briquettes

And while the Philippines is shifting towards greener forms of energy, the coal power plants are still driving the demand for coal. The proximity of North Cotabato to the Davao Coal Power Plant is an opportunity that can be tapped, especially for bamboo producers. The production of Bamboo Briquettes can augment the coal demand, if there is a need for it. The Precious Skills Training Institute Corp. in President Roxas is already experimenting on bamboo products, but it can definitely expand its production portfolio for the people of the municipality and beyond.

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Value: Development of rubber and CNSL for the Municipality of Makilala (A Concept Art)

Cashew photo from Google Images

Logisticians understand the importance of location in the creation of a holistic value chain. North Cotabato has been blessed with a terrain that is somehow shielded from typhoons. This makes the province a good candidate for the Food Basket Corridor project of the Mindanao Development Authority. Identification of the flagship food products that can be developed takes thorough research. The environs of the KMM eco-triangle can develop the coffee industry, but the lower areas can be utilized for the products aside from Banana. Makilala’s narrative was the marriage of diverse barangays. This can be reflected in its industry narrative – Diversification.

Rubber Industry

There are already existing rubber corporations in the Municipality of Makilala. These institutions just need some complementary industries to spur value-adding products. Rubber can be developed into many products. Its development will fuel local economics, with specialty towards mass-produced rubber commodities for industry (industrial parts), leisure (basketball, etc), disaster resiliency (rubber boats, etc.), and many more. This should drive more research and development towards the raw material.

CNSL Industry

Makilala is home to many fruits, including the famed Mangosteen that is known as a raw material for medicines. Aside from this, the municipality is yet to invest in its Cashew Industry. Cashew can produce the fruits, which can be converted into animal feeds. The nut can be used for pasties as well. And on top of these, the cashew sub-products can still expand into a complementary industry – CNSL.

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) is a by-product of cashew harvests. It can be developed into a wide range of products, which includes vulcanizing agent for rubber, plasticizer for polymers, curing agent for epoxy resins, and for varnishes.

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Cabrito Asado: Development of Goat Industry in the Municipality of President Roxas (A Concept Art)

Cabrito Asado photo from http://www.google.com

The Philippines is home to Asian, Hispanic, Mexican, and American Heritages. This hodpodge of cultures makes the country’s culinary profile an evolving project. And while most Filipinos love our local version of Lechon, which is championed by the Province of Cebu, we are yet to invest in its ruminant version – Cabrito Asado.

Chicken Inasal Story

Bacolod, an Ilonggo bailwick, already champions the chicken inasal industry. This culinary masterpiece has inspired strong restaurant chains to sell the recipe. The Municipality of President Roxas, which is currently in the “herding phase” for its goat industry, aims to champion the Cabrito Asado story. The municipality is strategically located in Cotabato Province, which is home to the confluence of culinary cultures. The Ilonggos, who are culinary-savvy, can lead this initiative in the municipality by infusing the traditional Mindanaoan spices with this Latin recipe. Hopefully, this initiative can build a demand that is strong enough to reinvent the chevon/goat industry in the country. The industry can expand to both ASEAN and Latin America, which hopefully can employ more of our Filipino service crews.

Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT)

And while the municipality of President Roxas is currently developing its coffee industry, the co-development of the goat industry is a positive contribution. The Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center Inc. has been training many people in symbiotic growing of livestock and crops. The center developed the SALT, which is highly applicable for the municipality. The presence of goats can naturally fertilize the fields that grow the coffee. This would lower down the costs of buying inorganic fertilizers.

Value-Adding Industries

The goat industry is not only limited to the meat production, but also for the production of Milk and Feta Cheese. The best way to best develop these industries would be to get the support from the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers Associations of the Philippines, Incorporated (FGASPAPI). They currently operate in Central Luzon, which has a comparable terrain with North Cotabato.

The Tiger Grass: MICE destinations and creative industries for Municipality of Magpet (A Concept Art)

Phalaenopsis on top of driftwood.

Magpet, the land of countless waters, is said to have been derived from the word “malotpot.” The local term means “a place where people gather in fellowship to partake of their lunch wrapped in banana leaves.” And while Magpet already leads in the production of Banana for export, it can still take its economy further by completing its narrative.

Owing to the fact that the municipality is part of the Kidapawan-Magpet-Makilala (KMM) Ecoutourism Triangle, Magpet would be perfect place for a major foot traffic: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE). MICE would be a great opportunity, not only for the municipality, but also for the rest of Cotabato Province once it finally opens its economic profile. Aligned with the narrative of its people, Magpet can ultimately push their economy with a general roadmap – Creative Industry.

Magpet already has a creative profile.

The Tiger Grass – The Tiger Grass, an heirloom plant of the municipality, is used in the artisan production of soft brooms. Exhibiting the artisan work of the Obo Monuvu, Magpet can take this heirloom creative industry by expanding it to related industries. Architects can definitely take inspiration from this, especially in crafting new area for MICE in the municipality. Sitio Maupot, as discussed in my previous post, somehow paved the way for MICE in the area. Creating a MICE-friendly environment in Magpet would spur developments in the informal economy.

Phalaenopsis – Phalaenopsis production can be a lead image of the city, since this flower is present in almost all resorts around the world. The municipality can take advantage of its high elevation by developing a strong floriculture industry.

Ylang-ylang – Ylang-ylang’s oil is known to be used for resorts and spas in the region. The aromatic flower already exists in the area.

(ongoing research)