EXAMPLE No.

CO Models in times of Crises

Look around. Read and watch the news. Research further on the current initiatives led by action groups,
institutions, and government agencies. Do you think the CO models are being used? If you have
identified one model that is being applied on a specific issue or a case, you will have to analyze it further
by filling out the matrix below. Do not worry about some missing information in your issue/case. You
may make some assumptions so that you are able to complete the exercise.

Let’s Go!

CO MODEL Identified: Social Planning

Summary of Case/Issue:

In January 2020, the World Health Organization informed and signaled the world of a public
health emergency brought by COVID 19 pandemic that started in China. This pandemic have an
unprecedented public health impact that make everyone at risk especially those people with co-
morbidity or conditions that can aggravate the condition even more. In addition, more at risk for
infection are people living in poor, densely populated urban settings and with inadequate access to
proper hygiene supplies and with constrained hygiene and sanitation practices.

Local and international agencies are quick to respond to these concerns. International agencies
who have a capacity for a long-term and wide impact projects planned a humanitarian assistance to the
Philippines. The Philippines Humanitarian Country Team under the Humanitarian Coordinator,
partnered with the national government and local government units to provide aids to the affected
communities.

Their initiative takes place in the context of pre-existing vulnerabilities brought about by
conflict and natural disasters. One of the communities that they engaged in are the sites where the
Internally Displaced People temporarily lived in the Province of North Cotabato, Davao Del Sur, Marawi,
Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

These people are displaced because of series of earthquakes happened in Mindanao in late
2019 as well as the armed conflict existing in the area. Based on the assessment of IOM on May 2020,
many are still displaced, have a limited access to health services as well as water, sanitation and hygiene
facilities, in top of this they have an increase vulnerability to COVID 19 infection. IDPs living in camps or
camp-like settings have limited access to services, thus exposing them to the risk of infection.

Based on the initial investigation of the humanitarian team, at present, there are 46 evacuation
centers still open with 20, 674 IDPs inside and 256,453 IDPs outside the evacuation centers. These IDPs
as per the report of the camp managers, do not report to health centers because of fear of isolation,
they do not observe physical distancing inside the evacuation centers due to lack of space, most of
them are stressed due to food insecurity, income loss and anxiety from COVID 19.
 The humanitarian team strengthen the community engagement, they identify various
community strategies and involve at-risk communities and the affected populations in tailoring and
improving the response and recovery, develop intervention to stop further spread of the disease.
The team conducted a consultation to the IDPs, understanding their needs and concerns. One
of the emerging concerns that arises which is related to COVID 19 are the lack of information, what
should be done inside and outside the evacuation centers. Information that can reduce stigma and fear.
The humanitarian team consulted the IDPs on what information they wanted to know about COVID 19
and how they wanted to learn it examples are proper hygiene, etiquette, purpose and duration of
quarantine, referrals, whom to access for support. After which, the team together with the IDPs were
able to translate the information particularly the frequently asked questions into local languages and
dialects. Another important output from the consultation and initiatives are the use of different
modalities to keep the IDPs informed. It may be through the Public Announcement Systems,
megaphones, radio announcements, text brigade, printed media (flyers, tarpaulins placed in strategic
areas) and even a novelty songs. These Education and Communication materials on COVID 19 are
displayed throughout the site including common areas.

The team and the IDPs were able to harness a multi sectoral support for their initiative during
the COVID 19 crisis.

Practice Variables Your Answer/s Your

Goal categories of community
action
Assumptions concerning
community structure and
problem conditions
Basic change strategy
Provision of relevant and critical
information about COVID 19 to
ensure their safety amidst their
condition.
Lack initiative on the part of the
local government on providing
relevant information for the
IDPs.
Starting on what the people
knew, they are involved in
planning to identify the
information they wanted to
Remarks/Notes/Comments
Information should be sourced
out from valid agencies like the
information being disseminated
by World Health Organization
and Department of Health. The
Local Municipal Health Office
should also be involved so that
they can provide technical
assistance that concerns their
area.
The local government provided
assistance to the IDPs through
provision and maintenance of
evacuation centers and the
actors involved are government
personnel yet the important
information that relates to their
safety and protection during the
pandemic are not being
addressed and the IDPs are left
hanging on what are happening
and what should be done.
Age-appropriate materials and
information could also be
created to ensure awareness in
every age group for example

Characteristics change tactics
and techniques
Boundary definition of the
community client system or
constituency
Assumptions regarding interests
of community sub-parts
Conception of the client
population or constituency
Conception of the client role
know, the information they information that are relevant
need to know and how they and can easily be grasped by
wanted to learn it. Best practice children and information related
done by the organization and to elderly. Aside from basic
IDPS after the consultations are health information and
translating the material into protocols, gender-based
local dialects and languages. In concern should also be part of
this manner, the people within information campaign given the
the community will better vulnerabilities of women and
understand the information. girls in evacuation centers and
potential threat to their safety
aside from the threats of COVID
19, as such this should be part of
the information campaign.
Initial investigation in the Maximum participation of both
community, consultation IDPs inside the evacuation
dialogue with the IDPs. centers and outside the
evacuation centers. In addition,
there are leaders being
identified inside the evacuation
centers, these can be created
into a core group together with
representative of IDPs outside
the center that can sustain the
information campaign.
IDPs in Mindanao area. IDPs temporarily residing inside
the evacuation centers and IDPs
residing with relatives and other
significant persons should be
involved.
Proper information to avoid Proper protocols must also be
stigma and fear and ensure disseminated. Ensure that the
their health and well-being IDPs are also part of health
during COVID 19 pandemic committees in the communities
amidst their existing situations. so that their concerns should be
heard.
Local Government Units In the case of IDP population it
is the local government who
have a comprehensive list as
well as their locations.
Cooperation of the stakeholders IDPs should also have a strong
which involves the local organization within their groups
government with each various and they must be recognized in
agencies responding to the every decisions that needs to be
needs of the IDPs and the IDPs made especially those that in
themselves. relation to their general well-
being.
Additional information/notes:

CO Model identified is Social Planning, because process came from the top but there is an
involvement of the community. There is an involvement of other stakeholders that can be expert to
address their concerns. But what is more significant in the process is that the concern of the people came
from the IDPs themselves and they are also involved in identifying solutions and in carrying out the plan.

Aside from addressing the emerging concern of the IDPs the Philippines Humanitarian Country
Team had in their priority response the provision of goods and services to the people such as essential
items, personal protective equipment for IDPs manning the registration area and isolation area, provision
of dignity kits and mental health program for at-risk groups. They as well expand dwelling areas to
decongest sites and identify isolation areas.

Reference:

Philippine Humanitarian Country Team. COVID 19 Humanitarian Response Plan Philippines. Retrieved
from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/200511_COVID-19%20Philippines
%20HRP%20Revision%20Final.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0a3RgTnJsoRuctexUia2VeRHj920PyHhZvOSzYHmOj7A43_
zTzuTurdo

EXAMPLE No. 2

Child Laborers in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao

Source: https://www.ilo.org/manila/projects/WCMS_758735/lang--en/index.htm

CO MODEL Identified: Combination of Locality Development and Social Planning

Summary of Case/Issue:

According to the 2011 Survey on Children of the Philippines Statistics Authority, Northern Mindanao
has the highest proportion of child labourers out of 2.1 million child labourers in the Philippines.
They are children who work “in farms and plantations, in dangerous mines, on streets, in factories
and in private homes as child domestic workers. Agriculture remains to be the sector where most
child labourers can be found.”

This project will be implemented in Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao which are part of BARMM – a
predominantly agriculture based with a higher number of smallholder farmers. The target provinces
face challenges of under-investment, poor infrastructure, limited business opportunities, and high
unemployment. The lack of economic opportunities coupled with threats from natural hazards, have
led to internal displacement, causing severe impact on human security, pushing the most vulnerable
group further into poverty, inequality and marginalization. Education is inaccessible, and where
accessible, the quality of education provided is sometimes poor, contributing to higher school drop-
out rates, in turn fostering an increased level of child labour. Importantly, the norms and cultural
practices promote children to work, in meeting both “on” and “off” farm labour demands.
The project aims to provide support to the government of BARMM to develop effective strategies to
combat child labour with the following outcomes:
(1) Improved non-formal education services and opportunities, and increased access to skills
training;
(2) Economic empowerment opportunities are provided and rural farming communities
mobilized to combat child labour; and
(3) Improved policy responses to child labour through regulatory framework and institutional
development for the reduction and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

Specifically, the BARMM level interventions (regional), or upstream interventions, undertaken by this
project will create an enabling environment by strengthening the policy and legislative frameworks in
the following areas:
● expanding the knowledge base and capacity for policy development and implementation in
the agriculture sector;
● advocacy and support to extending scope and coverage of legislation on child labour;
● enhancing access of child labour to the governments’ education and training opportunities;
● changing attitudes and building alliances against child labour.

At the provincial level, where both direct action and capacity development are planned to address
child labour with a focus on the worst forms (agriculture sector), the project aims to design
interventions to be implemented in the following five areas:
● sensitization of local governments for allocation of resources for social development of child
labour and children at-risk;
● local capacity development and knowledge to identify, monitor and reduce child labour;
● economic empowerment of families and communities exposed to the worst forms of child
labour;
● education and training to combat child labour; and
● regional and local advocacy for social mobilization.

Practice Variables Your Answer/s Your

Goal categories of community
action
Remarks/Notes/Comments
Specifically in Lanao del Sur and Good to involve the BARMM
Maguindanao, both direct government in developing
action and capacity strategies to combat child
development to address child labour
labour with a focus on the
agriculture sector, specifically
on:
● Non-formal education
services and
opportunities, and
increased access to
skills training;
● Economic
empowerment
opportunities; and
 ● Improved policy
responses to child
labour
Assumptions concerning The lack of economic
community structure and opportunities and threats from
problem conditions natural hazards, have led to
internal displacement which
pushes the most vulnerable
further into marginalization
Inaccessible and/or low quality
education also contribute to
higher school drop-out rates.
Both foster an increased level of
child labour - a cultural practice
that has become the norm as
work at the farm demands.
In order to put a stop to child
labor practices in agriculture,
areas from a micro and macro
level have to be addressed.
At a macro level, creating
economic and educational
opportunities, and providing
safe, hazard-proof housing will
be key for the government to
lead.
At a micro level, community
members need to be educated
to break free from cultural
practices that promote child
labor.

Basic change strategy At the BARMM level, create an Involved a combination of

enabling environment by government, non-government
strengthening the policy and clients to change the policies
legislative frameworks in the
following areas: Employed strategies both at a
● expanding the regional and local level
knowledge base and
capacity for policy
development and
implementation in the
agriculture sector;
● advocacy and support
to extending scope and
coverage of legislation
on child labour;
● enhancing access of
child labour to the
governments’ education
and training
opportunities;
● changing attitudes and
building alliances
against child labour.

At the local level:


Characteristics change tactics
and techniques
● sensitization of local
governments for
allocation of resources
for social development
of child labour and
children at-risk;
● local capacity
development and
knowledge to identify,
monitor and reduce
child labour;
● economic
empowerment of
families and
communities exposed
to the worst forms of
child labour;
● education and training
to combat child labour;
and
● regional and local
advocacy for social
mobilization
Integrating child labour issues Because of the many
into the legislative policies and interventions that need to
frameworks happen, the citizens and
government need to discuss
Training regional and local which concern is most urgent to
government capacity to identify be addressed; and come up
child issues and implement with short-term or interim
policies to reduce it solutions

Increasing awareness of the

Boundary definition of the
community client system or
constituency
government and citizens on the
issue of child labor, and shifting
their mindsets toward actively
addressing it either through
resource allocation, or fostering
economic empowerment.
Citizens of Lanao del Sur and
Maguindanao

Assumptions regarding interests
of community sub-parts
The citizens would want to have
economic and housing security.
They need the support of the
government to be able to find
employment.
The government will need to
identify the skills and interests
that citizens have so that they
can invest in growing that
industry - e.g. on top of farming,

Conception of the client
population or constituency
Conception of the client role
The children also need to be
provided quality education.
The BARMM government, and
the local government and
citizens of Lanao del Sur and
Maguindanao
Both the regiional and local
government and citizens should
be active in dialogue and
solutioning in addressing child
labor problems
they may be interested in
producing local food products
to sell from their harvest.
The community organizer may
want to recommend affordable
and accessible educational
opportunities that the
government can tap
There may be a tendency to
focus on eliminating only the
obvious issues such as their
economic situation; Thus, the
community organizer needs to
continually advocate the goal or
reducing child labor as the
measure of success
EXAMPLE No. 3

CO MODEL Identified: Locality Development and Social Action

Summary of Case/Issue: Proposed Coal Power Plant and Poverty in Barangay Panacan

Barangay Panacan located in the Municipality of Narra, Province of Palawan is a coastal

community of close to 4,515 people as determined by latest Census. The indigenous
communities living in the said area are Tagbanuas, Cuyonons and Molbogs. This barangay
suffers from poverty, economic instability, high incidence of VAWC, teenage pregnancy and
early marriages. This community is a disaster-prone area during storm surge. Worst of all, this
barangay was the target area where the proposed coal power plant will be erected. The Barangay
Officials usually becomes active and visible during Christmas season and fiesta. The decision-
making processes in the barangay are controlled by their Barangay Captain and its counselors.

Kuya Joel, a social worker of Center for Community Transformation, a Nonprofit Organization
(Faith-Based) operating in the province of Palawan was made aware by his organization that
DMCI Power Corporation, after years of battling opposition with civil society still managed to
secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources and could start the construction anytime soon at Barangay Panacan,
Narra once it gets the said permits from the municipal mayor; hence, Kuya Joel who is also an
environmentalist discussed with his organization the prospect of CO in Barangay Panacan,
Narra, Palawan.

To cut the long story short, Community Organizing has started in this barangay. After several
home visitations, congregating and conversing with the people in communal areas were
conducted, a series of consultation were also undertaken with the Barangay Council and the
different sectors of the community. Based on the social investigation, the 15-megawatt coal
power plant will be constructed in their area that can cause air and water pollution; hence,
community members and civil society groups planned to file a petition against it and they all
agreed that a social action was needed to effect change to repel the building of a proposed coal
power plant. Moreover, the majority of the residents experienced poverty and economic
instability due to unemployment, lack of education and lack of other source of income aside
from fishing, farming and hunting while the women and young members of the indigenous
community are highly untapped in most of the activities in the barangay hence, It was suggested
by the majority of the young women and housewives that an income-generating project such as
sardines making, fish processing and basket weaving should be established in the community to
augment the income of the families. With regards to high incidence of VAWC, community
members and civil society groups suggested to the Barangay Council to mobilize their Barangay
Violence Against Women (VAW) desk so that victims can seek assistance and protection. To
address the problem with teenage pregnancy and early marriages, community members
suggested the creation of a technical working groups and councils in the barangays that will
involve the youth in skills enhancement activities and other programs to make them engage in
worthwhile activities. The activities will also include information sharing and dissemination
about the negative effects of engaging in sex at an early age and marrying too early. Community
participation was also recommended to create a breakwater near the seashores consists of piles
of stones and sandbags to reduce the intensity of waves due to storm surge before it could reach
their homes. Core group was formed. Series of informal group discussions took place before
they finally arrived at a collective action. After several role playing, the organizer finally
mobilize the community into action.

Practice Variables Your Answer/s Your

Goal categories of
community action
Assumptions concerning
community structure and
problem conditions
Empower the community to
take social action to repel
construction of 14-megawatt
coal power plant and also
have a sustainable income-
generating project (sardines
making, fish processing and
basket weaving); self-help
Aside from weak leadership
of the barangay council, they
are also easily manipulated
by politicians and
businessmen. None
involvement of housewives
in solving the economic
problem of the families; male
counterpart is too tied to
fishing, agricultural work
and hunting; high incidence
Remarks/Notes/Comments
Community organizing is
needed to mobilize the
community / Trainors for
sardines making, fish
processing and basket
weaving from TESDA must
be tapped to conduct
necessary training.
The barangay council needs
leadership training and
seminars, housewives and
young women needs to be
involve in socio-economic
activities/income generating
projects to augment family
income while their spouses
helps in producing raw
materials. Seminar on RA
9262 was also needed to be

Boundary definition of the
community client system or
constituency
Basic change strategy
Assumptions regarding
interests of community sub-
parts
Conception of the client
population or constituency
of VAWC because of
poverty, high number of
teenage pregnancy and early
marriages
Residents of Barangay
Panacan, Narra, Palawan
Collective action/petition
letters/rallies and street
marches and anti-coal posts
on social media. Tapping the
skills of community members
especially young women and
housewives for income
generating activities such as
sardines making, fish
processing and basket making
to augment family’s income.
Request the PopCom Officer
to conduct seminars on risks
of teenage pregnancy and
early marruages
Bounded together by their
common interests which is to
repel construction of coal
power plant, be alleviated
from sufferings from inter-
generational poverty cycle,
economic instability, high
incidence of VAWC, teenage
pregnancy and early
marriages and their disaster-
prone area during storm
surge.
Bonafide members of the
barangay
conducted on all couples and
would be couples in the
community. Seminar on
teenage pregnancy and Pre-
marital counseling is also
needed to all the youths in the
community
The organizer together with
community leaders should
make sure that all
stakeholders and sector of the
community should be well
represented
Inclusive development and
representation of all members
The organizer needs to form
the core group and identify
the potential leaders and
motivate them towards
collective action and making
sure that interests of all
sector/stakeholders are
discussed and included
Civil Society Organization
and Faith-Based Organization
operating in the area should
also be recognized
Conception of the client role
Assumptions regarding the
Strength of the community
Assumptions regarding the
weakness of the community
Assumptions regarding the
opportunities of the
community
Assumptions regarding the
threats to the community
Community members should Participative
be the active participants in development/Social
the problem-solving process Movement Perspective
should also be encouraged to
other community members
who are not yet involved in
the change process
Willingness and motivation Potential leaders among the
of the community members to community members should
take social action to address be regularly identified so as to
their community problem and sustain leadership. Regular
improve their living conscientization strategy
conditions should be applied to
continuously develop among
them the ability to think
critically about issues of
power in relationship to
oppression
Barangay Council could Community members should
easily be bribed by powerful always be on-guard with the
politicians and businessmen decisions made by their
Barangay council
Civil Society Organizations Community mobilization is
and Faith-Based highly encouraged to be
Organizations operating in sustained
their area are very much
willing to support their cause
to repel the construction of
coal power plant as well as
support their income
generating projects
Powerful politicians could Social action/petition letters
easily influence the decisions should pushed through to
of Barangay Council thus deter the threat in the
allowing the construction of community. Formalization of
coal power plant. Coal plant the community based
has negative impacts on organization is needed to
health and the environment, religiously oppose the
particularly to locally creation of the coal fired
declared fish sanctuaries in power plant in their barangay
the area. Fishing is the
livelihood of people there.
The discharge of waste water
from the coal plant will cause
thermal pollution that is
hazardous to the marine
ecosystem, especially coral
reefs. Coal plant waste affects
the aquatic ecosystems such
as rivers, lakes, and coastal
oceans with mercury
contamination; food and
medicine plants will be
poisoned by the coal fired
power plant emissions;
animal species that are
particularly sensitive will be
put in serious danger; animal
species will suffer from
serious reproductive and
neurological effects; and a
dark haze will replace the
once-pristine air throughout
the region. In addition to acid
rain and heavy metals, which
have been mitigated as
emissions from the stacks in
most plants, the most
significant remaining
environmental concern with
coal-fired electricity is carbon
dioxide. High levels of CO2
can potentially cause health
problems.