Team AC Inc., led by AC President Rev. Dr. Micah Ryan B. Ramel, met with Hon. Mayor Antonio Sergio T. Bagasao today at the latter’s office to declare support for the Local Chief Executive’s good governance initiative while also discussing the group’s continuing engagement at the level of the Masoc Barangay Development Council (MBDC) utilizing the Bridging Leadership advocacy for the protection and development of the Barobbob Watershed, via multi-stakeholder collaboration for the rights of IP children, youth, and women, in the context of family and community development.
While the good Mayor acknowledged that the ongoing social divide at Barobbob Watershed is indeed very complex, especially with the assessed widespread occupation of all but five hectares of the 400+ watershed total land area, he underscored that the needed solutions should address both the immediate and long term problems, issues, and concerns of the marginalized members of the community and should not be mere plans.
Mayor Bagasao warmly welcomed the expression of support from Team AC Inc. and acknowledged that academic institutions may help the Municipal Local Government Unit deepen further the current pool and participation of civil society organizations which is required by the Local Government Code. He also shared how he is choosing to focus on the concerns that he can competently act on, such as the engagements connecting community products with local and foreign organizations.
Rev. Ramel for his part explained that Team AC Inc. is now closely coordinating with the MBDC and the Provincial Local Government Unit’s Barobbob Watershed Occupants Association (BWOA), in support to the formation and registration of the forthcoming Barobbob Watershed Abaca Free Farmers for Social Enterprise (AFSE) organization, which is in accordance with DA-PhilFIDA and PLGU-Nueva Vizcaya’s bridging leadership dialogue sessions in 2020, 2021, and 2022, where he serves as the Moderator/Adviser, a role he embraced as early as 2018.
Furthermore, Rev. Ramel also informed the good Mayor of Team AC Inc.’s efforts to continue with its parallel set of programs, projects, and activities in the watershed, in partnership with like-minded organizations.
With the AC President during the meeting were Team AC Inc.’s Research and Extension directors and the Planning & Development team.
In the photo, from L-R, are: Mr. Christopher Cabbigat, Rev. Daton Jonathan Palitayan, Rev. Micah Ryan Ramel, Hon. Antonio Sergio Bagasao, Ms. Leticia Serrano, Engr. Godofredo Baratao, Mr. Angelito Capuno, and Hon. Seth Navis of SB Bayombong.
