Community Development 126 (Community and Organizational Development) students from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) partnered with the Igang Small Farmers and Fisherfolks Association, Inc. (ISFFAI) and Barangay Igang officials for a project proposal writing workshop last April 24, 2026. The workshop was held at the Barangay Igang Plaza, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras from 9 AM to 4 PM and was participated in by ISFFAI members.
ISFFAI is a community-based non-government organization operating in Barangay Igang, Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, composed of small farmers and fisherfolk. The organization’s main thrust is sustainable resource management, including the protection of mangrove forests and seagrass beds.
The workshop was conceptualized after the CD 126 students’ prior organizational development assessment of ISFFAI in March, where association officers expressed their desire to improve their technical writing skills and eventually partner with more organizations.
During the workshop, members of ISFFAI were divided into three different teams and each came up with their own team name: Team MECCA, Team Harvest, and Team Pananum Bakhaw. The CD 126 students who facilitated the workshop likewise composed Team SAGWAN. The morning session consisted of a lecture by Team SAGWAN on creating the project rationale, project vision, project goals, and executive summary. This was followed by a writing workshop where each participating team wrote a project proposal rationale, vision, and goals aimed at addressing issues like mangrove protection and fisherfolk livelihood. After a short break another lecture on writing the Project Timeline, Team Roles, Risks, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Budget was carried out by the CD students.
The afternoon was then devoted to applying the concepts in another writing workshop focused on crafting timelines, team roles, risks, monitoring and evaluation and budget and project executive summaries. After presenting their complete project proposals, a guided evaluation process was done and Team Pananum Bakhaw was recognized as having written the best project proposal.
The engagement highlighted the importance of using academic knowledge to empower local communities, as well as the need for community-based consultations in order to concretely address articulated needs. It proved to be an enriching learning experience for the UPV CD students that goes beyond course requirements.
CD 126 is handled by Prof. Josephine T. Firmase this semester and students Sophia Beatrice Calvo, Anna Veronica Hobilla, Antonio Sebastian B. Jover, Mary Nicole Ramos, and Alfred John Tayona comprised Team SAGWAN who served as the workshop facilitators.
Written by Antonio Sebastian B. Jover
Photos courtesy of Anna Veronica Hobilla
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