Amidst the pandemic we are facing today, the Bantay Bukid volunteers are still committed to protect and rehabilitate the conservation areas of Panigan-Tamugan Watershed. The volunteers strictly follow the guidelines of the “new normal” implemented by the barangay local government units where they are located to prevent the spread of the virus. Bantay Bukid continues to fulfil their functions such as watershed monitoring, river monitoring, establishment and maintenance of nurseries, and planting and re-planting in the rainforestation sites. They grouped themselves by cluster and scheduled alternately their activities to follow social distancing and required their members to wear face mask.
However, upon checking with the Bantay Bukid volunteers, they raised their concern of not having adequate supply of clean face masks.
To assist them with this, IDIS turned-over three sewing machines, cloth, and sewing tools to help them produce reusable face masks for them and their family members to use. This project also aimed at providing livelihood project to the Bantay Bukid once they are able to produce more face masks that can be sold to other community members and other watershed stakeholders at an affordable price. The purchase of equipment is under the community project funded by DKA and Misereor.
In addition, the Davao City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office also gave five (5) sets of PPE’s to the volunteers such as clothing, aprons, googles, and disposable gloves to the Bantay Bukid volunteers who continue to assist their BLGUs in attending to actual cases of persons under monitoring (PUMs) in their barangays. IDIS also made sure that the volunteers continue to receive their monthly allowances from the city government during the lockdown period as well as benefits from other agencies implementing the Social Amelioration Program, 4Ps, IPs, and Senior Citizens financial assistance.
With these, the volunteers continue to contribute in the local response to COVID-19 pandemic as well as in the protection, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the conservation areas without compromising their health.