Driven
by the desire to transform Naujan from a sleepy town to
a vibrant and progressive community, the municipal leadership
launched this program to mobilize the resources and talents
of non-government organizations as well as of Naujenos living
outside of Naujan.
Fifteen
barangays were identified as priority areas for development
intervention to augment family income and to enhance their
sense of consciousness and belongingness as Naujenos. The
program also aimed to update Naujenos about their hometown
and renew linkages between those inside and outside of Naujan.
The program adopted the Social Reform Agenda-Minimum Basic
Needs (SRA-MBN) approach to determine the actual conditions
of the basic sectors and mobilize other sectors in harnessing
linkages with Naujenos living outside.
The
MBN approach proved effective in stimulating interest and
participation of the residents who readily volunteered to
support the goals of the program. The program reached its
beneficiaries through the activities of its three major
components: Lingap sa Barangay (Livelihood), Kalusugan sa
Barangay (Health) and Lingap Tanaw Klinika (Clinics ran
by Naujenos medical doctors living outside).
The
program is a showcase of an effective LGU-NGO-PO partnership
and had shown significant contribution to the improvement
of the social, economic and health conditions of the people.
It also helped transform attitudes and behaviors of people
from helplessness and apathy to active participation and
concern. Naujan’s ‘out migrants’ had shown
that even if they are no longer in the town physically,
they could still effect positive changes in Naujan and be
of service to their hometown.
