PAVING THE WAY FOR DONATIONS

Cesar Torres wrote: “Of course we need to join for the sake of our nation and especially those who are dying of hunger and malnutrition. But if possible, since you are the one who is deep into this issue already, can we please work together with the others who are already involved in livelihood? Aren’t there many groups involved? Peng of Davao, said that let us not be "metas metas". Let us remember the lesson of the metastasizing cancer cells which ultimately kill the body. Let us take heart from the very humble but oh so wise example of the “Walis Tingting”, a product of our “Tree of Life”, the coconut. I pledge $100, redeemable in one year for the miscellaneous expenses associated with this initiative”.
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Taking a cue from what Cesar said, there is really a need to integrate all the initiatives in the Philippines that are related to livelihood, coming from both the private sector and the government side. Before moving on any further however, I would like to stress two important points. My first point is that “livelihood” as we understand it today should be elevated to the higher plane of “small business”, because that is what it should be. Based on the popular notion, “livelihood” is generally understood to mean only the “backyard” type of activities that would only produce meager incomes for the daily needs of the owners, but never enough to produce higher value added that would enable them to graduate out of the poverty line.
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My second point is that businesses (both big and small) have several “business processes” that includes not just financing, but also includes manufacturing, positioning, marketing, branding and packaging, going all the way to accounting and counseling. The common mistake of organizations involved in livelihood is to provide only one aspect, usually the financing part, while neglecting the other components. Looking at this in another way, all businesses are inherently part of “supply chains” that should be managed in an integrated manner. This is where integration should happen. I thank Cesar for his donation, and for opening the door for others.
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Antonina “Tonette” Binsol (www.tpmovers.org) of Tokyo wrote: “What is your model of a food bank and what kind of networks or channels should you have to make it work? I read about Japan Food Bank too”. She is a member of the very active “Tulong Pinoy” Yahoo Group (tulong-pinoy-subscribe@yahoogroups.com). Their mission is to support needy Filipinos by making use of information and communication technology in building partnership and empowerment-sharing with individuals and organizations, and by informing and mobilizing Filipinos all over the world in order for them to take an active role in poverty alleviation. Their vision is to see that every Filipino is poverty-free, educated, enterprising and productive; living in dignity, peace and in the Bayanihan spirit.
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Poverty and charity have always been around since the beginning of time, but more often than not, these two “forces” do not always meet on a regular and systematic basis. Although it could be said that poverty is caused by the scarcity of economic and material resources, it could also be said that where there is a scarcity in one place (in one household for instance), there could also be abundance in another place (in another country for instance). When I shared this analysis with my banker friend Col. Carly Divinagracia, he said that this is actually a “logistical challenge”, and he is right, because there is really a big opportunity for poverty and charity to “meet”, in such a way that the latter could “meet” the needs of the former.
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To answer the question of Tonette, I am going to base our local food bank on the American and Canadian models, wherein the food bank would be a place where companies could donate their products that they would not, or could not market, for one reason or another. More often than not, these are products that are nearing the expiration date, but are still in good condition. For the sake of good order and sound management, the local food bank will be for “members only”, but everyone could actually join. An Automatic Tulong Machine (ATM) card will be required to avail of all the freebies.
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SAMA-KABUHAYAN (SAMA-KA) will soon provide free goods and services to its members, as well as discounted products courtesy of its private, corporate and government donors from here and abroad. Aside from a food bank, we are also going to have a job bank, a book bank and a seedling bank. The association invites small entrepreneurs, cottage industries and self-help cooperatives to join its marketing program by consigning their products to a distribution network that will be catering to private, corporate and government buyers here and abroad.
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Henry Salac wrote: I have been a radio commentator at DXVP here in Zamboanga City for three years now. I am also a columnist for Zamboanga Weekly. I would like very much to attend the media forum and training program of Alyansya ng May Kapansanang Pinoy (AKAP-PINOY) Federation of People with Disabilities (PWDs) Federation on July 26 to 29 at the Pearl Hotel in Metro Manila. I have been afflicted with an orthopedic disability in my bones since birth, affecting my right leg and my hands, and that is why I have a difficulty in walking. Capt. Oscar Taleon, the President of AKAP-PINOY has offered me free board and lodging plus inland transport over there, but I need a means of transportation to go there. The plane fare is 2021 pesos while the boat fare is 1950 both one way only. I hope that through you, my dream of attending the forum and training would come true, and I would consider it a big favor of you could help me go there.
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There are about four million PWDs in this country with one form of disability or the other. While the disability of Henry may not be unique, he is one of a small community of PWDs who are determined to practice their professions as broadcasters and journalists, notwithstanding their condition. Capt. Taleon was a Navy officer (a PMA graduate) before he was forced to leave the service due to blindness. We are together in the Philippine Blind Union (PBU) where I am a Director and where he is the President. He had gladly opened an extra slot for Henry when I asked him, but unfortunately he could no longer provide for a transportation budget.
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In an effort to help Henry, I have sought the assistance of my fellow broadcasters and journalists, and I hope that one of them would come through. I will also try approaching the airlines and the shipping lines, but how I wish that the government would have a fund for the purpose of leveling the playing field for PWDs who would like to practice in their chosen professions. We have a long way to go as far as this goal is concerned, and I wonder how we are going to start.
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Internet users from here and abroad could listen to DZXL radio programs on real-time by logging on to www.rmn.com.ph please check the website for program schedules. My radio program provides free assistance to small business owners and job applicants. The discussion is 100% developmental and is 100% non-political, and is focused on livelihood and employment.