UPOU FMDS Project Team’s Data Collection Activity in Calape, Bohol Strengthens Participatory Assessment of Women-Led Permaculture - University of the Philippines Open University

The research team conducted a three-day data collection activity from 23–25 January 2026 in Calape, Bohol, as part of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-funded project titled “Participatory Approach in Assessing and Promoting Women-led Permaculture among Selected Permaculture Sites in the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) Sectors in the Philippines”. The activity aimed to gather qualitative and contextual data to better understand local governance dynamics, community participation, and women’s roles in permaculture initiatives in Calape, Bohol.

Data collection activities were carried out at several key locations, including the Municipal Hall of Calape, Bohol, Barangay Mandaug, Barangay Banlasan, and Atbang Farm Food Forest. These sites provided diverse perspectives from both institutional stakeholders and community-based practitioners engaged in agriculture, natural resource management, and sustainable food systems.

The activity was led by Assistant Professor Remsce Pasahol, Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) Program Chair, together with research team members, namely Dr. Jabez Joshua Flores, UPOU Senior Lecturer and permaculture consultant, Raizza Anna Alforja, and Tiffany Catbagan, Project Staff. The team was also joined by staff from the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Calape, namely Alexander Caligang, Sheenah Domingo, Bernard Salas, and Marcelo N. Omasura, whose participation strengthened coordination between the research team and the local government.

Key informants and participants included Local Government Unit (LGU) officials of Calape, Bohol, representing the Office of the Mayor, Municipal Agriculture Office, Municipal Tourism Office, Municipal Interior and Local Government Operations Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Person, and the Municipal Nutrition Action Officer. Their inputs provided valuable insights into policy frameworks, program implementation, and gender-responsive initiatives at the municipal level.

At the community level, the team engaged with Barangay LGU officers of Barangay Manadaug, members of the Banlasan Women’s Association, and the owner and staff of Atbang Farm Food Forest. These discussions highlighted lived experiences, community practices, and women’s leadership in permaculture, as well as the challenges and opportunities faced in sustaining environmentally sound and inclusive livelihood systems.

Overall, the data collection activity in Calape, Bohol, reinforced the importance of participatory and multi-stakeholder approaches in assessing and promoting women-led permaculture within the AANR sectors. The findings from this activity will contribute to a deeper understanding of how local governance, community organization, and women’s leadership intersect to support sustainable and inclusive development.

This project aims to contribute to the fulfillment of: