We can end poverty. It is unnecessary.
WIMLER Partnership for Social Progress, Inc. is an independent, non-profit, and non-governmental organization reigstered with the Securities and Exachange Commision last 2006 in Davao City, Philippines. WIMLER supports innovative projects which lead to the empowerment, development of grassroots community-based organizations specifically the vulnerable sectors such as women, youth, and elderly primarily in the municipality of Bansalan and neigbouring municipalities of Davao del Sur and North Cotabato, Philippines.
WIMLER envisions communities that are self-supporting and sustainable and able to make their own decisions about their own development. It supports projects which enhance the potentials of local people to help themselves rise up from poverty and enable them to fully exercise their rights and duties as active citizens of the global community.
WIMLER is working along with community-based organizations through literacy programs, c gender development, social entreprenurship, and micro-credits programs. Its main area of operation is on the southern
Photos: Leila Rispens-Noel
Our project location: BANSALAN, DAVAO DEL SUR
In the lowlands of Mt. Apo lies the rural town of Bansalan. Despite its agricultural economy, it is one of the progressive municipalities in the province of Davao del Sur.Legend has it that Bansalan got its name from a Bagobo chieftain (datu) named "Dansalan" whose tribal folks were the original inhabitants of the place. A so-called reporting error by the early surveyors transposed the name to Bansalan and somehow became the official name on record.
Bansalan is also formerly called Miral and some local folks still refer to this former name. Visitors to this rustic town would notice that in public transportation the signboard still says Miral instead of Bansalan. Bansalan is about 72 kilometers south of Davao City and is very accessible by land transportation mostly by buses going to Cotabato City, Kidapawan City, and Tacurong. Bansalan is about 12 kilometers northwest of the capital city of Digos. Her neighboring towns include Makilala, North Cotabato in the north, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur (formerly called Kialeg) in the west, Matanao, Davao del Sur in the south, Mt. Apo and parts of Digos City in the east.
The town of Bansalan is a second class municipality which means its income level is between 27 million to 35 million pesos. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 51,781 people in 11,073 households.
Agriculture is the major source of income for this town. Bansalenos grow rice, corn, banana, fruit trees, coconut, sugar cane in the lowlands. Coffee, vegetables and fruits are grown in the colder highlands of Mt. Apo.
The peak of Mt. Apo has an altitude of 3,142 meters (10,311 feet) above sea level, the highest in the Philippines. Near the peak you can still see some trees but this is all. The rest are now planted with vegetables/high valued crops and the other side of the mountain suffered from illegal logging done years ago. People are planting high valued crops for livelihood but actually they earn so little because they are at the mercy of dependent on the middlemen who provide them with seed capital and fertilizers. During harvest season, the middlemen comes back, collect the money the vegetable growers loan from them, and buy the rest of the harvest at their own price. It is a vicious cycle. More and more trees are cut to give way to the vegetable growers.
The town of Bansalan is separated by Miral River, once teeming with water and with rich flora and fauna. The river is dried now but not when there is heavy rainfall. Flashfloods occur and continues to threat the lives of the people in the lowlands. I was in Bansalan when it flooded again. The house of my mother is located near the river bank. We never experienced these flashfloods before! . A total five strong flashfloods occurred this year alone. The problem can be addressed by initiating imme
diate and sustainable action . The immediate is to build walls along the river banks specially in the center of the town to mitigate loss of lives and properties during flashflood and the other is reforestation. The first one is beyond our means since this will be the work of the municipality which is in turn is dependent on the national government budget (it will not happen!) and the tree planting. The benefits of planting trees now is for the next generation to enjoy.
The flood:
A dry river runs wild during rainy season. The flood was stronger last August. Please check:
For more news about Bansalan and the projects of Association of Bansalenos Worldwide, please visit www.bansalan,com
NEW PROJECT: Pig Dispersal Project
Dear Friends of Wimler,
We are pleased to inform you that Wimler has just joined a network of individuals and organizations all over the Philippines to start a simple but tested way for poor people to obtain sustainable source of income. We are inspired by the experience of Mang Job Elizes to initiate pig dispersal project. It only takes one piglet donation to start it. One piglet donation today means two piglets next year, and then 4 piglets, then 8 piglets, then 16 piglets, year in and year out.
WIMLER hopes that with this small project, we can start helping poor families eventually take care of themselves, improve the quality of life and live with dignity and respect. The first recipient will hand one or two piglets to the next recipients and so we build a human chain of progress driven by the communities themselves. However, the poor families need support to be able to start.taking a small step forward to better their lives. Your contribution is indispensable.
A piglet would cost about Ph 2,000 (about Euro 30) only. Your donation would mean a lot for the family recipient. If you need more information, please contact leila.wimler@gmail.com
WIMLER distributed 5 piglets for breeding and three for fattening second week of November (2008). We hope with this initial effort, we would be able to distribute more piglets in the future.
We look foreward to hearing from you.
Wimler Partnership for Social Progress, Inc.