"Helping Hand Project" in Lias, Mountain Province

Our current project is in the Mountain Province, a mountain region in the north of the island Luzon. The Barangay Lias belongs to the municipality Barlig and is about 45 km from Bontoc and approx. 180 km from Baguio away. To get the real impression of the area, you need to take closer look at the geographical conditions.

Welcome to Lias

The fissured area

The region is strongly fissured at a hight of 500 meters to 2,500 meters over the sea level. The area of Lias used for agriculture lies at a hight of 1,100 to 1,700 meters. The main settlement of Lias is in a deep notch, which, during the dry months, has an approx. 4 meters wide walkable river.

Thus it is already suggested that agricultural production represents the main source of income. However, the food grown is only enough to cover the personal need. The landscape itself is shaped by rice and vegetable as well as partly citrus plantations.

Not beeing able to plant more than the personal need has various reasons. We want to consider three of them:

1. Long routes of transportation

The next regional market is in Bontoc, which takes about 2 to 3 hours on a muddy jungle track. In rainy seasons between May and September, the road is often flushed away and landslides block the way, so therefore the trail cannot be used over weeks.

Beyond that Lias does not have a road connection. The runway runs about 50 meters above the village and is only accessible over a narrow path.

Simply hammered in rock

The next supraregional market in Baguio can be reached over Bontoc in about 8 hours. The restrictions here plays a large role likewise in rainy seasons.

2. Lack of money

Funds for fertilizers, agricultural equipment and seeds are missing, in order to produce beyond the own need.

3. Missing experience in cultivation of "non-traditional" fruits.

These conditions were described by Pedro Pinos-an, who is a garden and an agriculture specialist for the Department of Agriculture (DOA). The contact to Pinos-an started in year 2000 at the EXPO 2000, while he worked on a agricultural study for the University of Hanover. The study looked for a way, how it can be made possible for the farmers in Lias to produce beyond their needs.

For further understanding we want to reflect the geographical structure and social conditions more clearly.

The 22 families and about 200 households share a surface of approximately 10 square kilometers. The slopes have only a few spruces and trees, which is typical for this altitude. A lot of the area is still in its original state. The strong subvegetation is only partly removed and clears without appropriate care within short time its way.

It is not usual to find trees untouched by humans in the Mountain Province. Thus one passes far areas with eradication or only small spruce existence on the way after Lias. The municipality border between Bontoc and Barlig is in this point also an impressive vegetation border. Rain forest shapes the further way until Lias.

The connection between clearing and erosion are quite conscious to people here. You can also find a probably arranged community in Lias. Prejudices about the "third world" within the administrative range are not true.

The beginning of the project locally

After a three hour lasting meeting with the inhabitants, where several possibilities of the support were discussed controversiesly, one agreed to the following operational sequence:

Phase 1:

Haranang Pilipino finances purchase and transport of approximately 9,500 baby plants for coffee trees. As a pilot project meant, each family can plant a area of half a hectare with this plants.

No trees has to be cut down. Only the subvegetation needs to be removed.

With the beginning of the rain season (approximately in May or June 2002) we will start planting. In the beginning of May Pinos-an will do a training course about the care of coffee cultivations in Lias.

Phase 2:

Later we want to start a cultivation of citrus trees, which can be set between the coffee plants.

Practical considerations formed the basis for this proceeding. Two-year old citrus plants are not available at the moment, because other parts of the mountain region recognized the cultivation of citrus plants as a chance as well. Beyond that the risks of diseases by growing our own seeds is reduced. Citrus plants require the use of fertilizer and pestizides.

Cultivation area

The coffee plants will carry fruits in 2 to 3 years. The main reason of our decision however was the storability. Possible interruptions of the transportation routes do not lead thereby to the loss of the harvest. The altitude permits the cultivation of best coffee sortes. While in the flat country only "Robusta" can be cultivated, Lias is suitable for "Coffee Arabica". Fertilizers and pestizide are not needed for coffee.

After work - a well-deserved menue

It is not planned, to buy plants by regular donations. Our help should only be one impact. Parts of the gained profits are to be used for further investments. This is organized by the association "Lias Fruit Growers Association" founded in the same evening.

This establishment of association happened with a discipline and an expertise, which probably are even hardly found in the organized Germany.

Donation for the pilot project: 1,000 euro