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Saturday, April 26, 2003
Priest brings economic salvation to place shattered by Atlas closure
By Jessica Banzon-Natad
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
IN barangay Lutopan, formerly blessed by the operation in the area of the fifth largest copper supplier in the world, the savior of its crumbled economy came in the form of a priest.
The community’s economic savior, who brought the idea of entrepreneurship aside from light to the community’s darkening faith, is diocesan priest Fr. Mike Hisoler.
Lutopan was practically poor when I arrived in the area. But there were still signs of religiosity,” Fr. Mike said.
Fr. Mike arrived in Lutopan in 1997, three years after the Soriano-led Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. (ACMDC) closed because of high operational costs, decreased price of copper in the world market and the demand by labor for a 200 percent salary increase.
Practically 100 percent of the families in Lutopan, located in the western part of Cebu province, were dependent on ACMDC for their income.
After two years of witnessing the poverty in Lutopan, Fr. Mike decided to draw out a business plan specifically for the community.
I thought—what is the use of the people’s faith, of their going to church and praising God every day (if) when they go home, they see no improvement in their lives? So I thought that the people should be taught to translate their faith into action.
Something should open their eyes that God loves them because He created the resources around them, resources that are waiting to be tapped and used for them to be able to improve their lives,” he said.
Under the Makalipang program, which stands for Maayong balita; Kasinatian; Lihok og Pangamuyo (good news, experience, action and prayer), small groups of Catholic families (seldas) meet once a week not only to hear the words of God; praise God; and share their experiences, talents and capabilities; but also to develop income-generating projects.
Three years after the implementation of the Makalipang program, Lutopan is now a community of entrepreneurs with the seldas venturing into the manufacturing of hollow blocks, chalk, Lunarox (or Lutopan chlorox), liquid and solid floor wax, comfort room deodorizers, pillows and pillow cases, candles and even coffins.
Some seldas produce chorizo, longganisa, tocino, pancit canton, fruit chips like banana chips and gabi chips, bread and fruit juices, while others sell hardware products, eggs and glass products.
Still others are in the service business such as toga renting, tailoring, photography and vulcanizing.
One resident has partnered with Prince Warehouse Inc. and put up an outlet of the supermarket in Lutopan.
Pig raising, despite the lack of water supply in the community, has also become viable with a selda concentrating on the selling of a package at P500, which consists of sawdust with cultured microorganisms developed by the group’s chemist.
The microorganisms eat the bad bacteria present in the pigpens including the pig waste, preventing the foul odor and reducing water consumption.
The idea is to first make Lutopan self-sufficient, keeping the money of the people circulating in the area, then to market the products to other parishes,” Fr. Mike said.
He said he is proud to market the Lutopan-made products, as these are of good quality and sold at low prices.
Where did the groups get the capital to establish their businesses?
Fr. Mike lent them interest-free some P700,000 from his own pocket. The condition? That they repay when they are able.
He also organized the parish-based Marian Heart Multipurpose Cooperative (MHMC), which gives out loans at three to four percent interest per year.
MHMC is the economic arm of the parish, specializing in the areas of lending, funeral services and wholesaling.
Father Mike is still transforming more people in Lutopan into entrepreneurs.
Next month, he will send eight people to Davao to learn the technology of growing mushrooms, short banana, short papaya and potato for French fries.
(April 26, 2003 issue)
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