| Numbers
speak volumes about the success story of this third-class
municipality in Davao del Sur. From 1999 to 2003, Malalag
realized savings of more than P1.5 million out of re-channeling
its mortuary aid, providing health insurance and Social Security
System coverage to poor residents, and other projects.
Numbers
also play a significant role in improving the quality of life
of people in Malalag by allowing the municipal government
to maximize its meager resources. The strategy is simple:
Malalag conducts regular surveys to determine the minimum
basic needs (MBN) of its constituents. These social indicators
are culled and become the framework for the municipal government’s
Social Reform Agenda.
Unlike
many local government units already adopting the MBN approach
to alleviate poverty, however, one thing distinguishes Malalag.
While other LGUs struggle to meet all 33 social indicators
under the MBN approach, Malalag has added 16 more indicators
to measure the impact and effectiveness of the program on
people’s behaviors and attitudes.
Using
health indicators made it easier for health personnel to find
out who among the families have needs that have remained unmet.
Maternal and childcare have remarkably improved since the
program started in 1997. The number of children not fully
immunized was reduced to 30 in 2002 from 505 in 1998. Cases
of malnutrition also dramatically plunged to 30 from 453 in
1998. Closer monitoring of pregnant and lactating mothers
have totally eliminated the death and birth of malnourished
children from 296 cases in 1998.
To
maintain peace and order, barangay officials keep and update
profiles of residents per purok. The practice helps them keep
a close watch on strangers in the community, or rebel groups
who could encroach and recruit people in the area.
As
part of the strategy, the municipal government created Integrated
Resource Management Teams to push service delivery. Government
agencies, non-government and foreign organizations have also
been tapped for funding assistance.
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