FAMILY RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND MANAGEMENT ENHANCEMENT(F.R.A.M.E) SAVERS’ MOVEMENT

LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT OF GENERAL SANTOS CITY(A Program Evaluation and Analysis)

ALVIN DELIMA

IRISH TANDOG

LEO EPONG

MARVY JOY FILASOL

MELVIN SERRA

NELMAR REQUISO

A PROGRAM EVALUATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGE

OF AGRICULTURE MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY, GENERAL SANTOS

CITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS IN

ABM 111

AGRICULTURAL PROJECT EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

Poverty remains the most critical social problem that

needs to be addressed here in the Philippines. The

government planned to eradicate this problem with programs

and development projects in cooperation with its people.

Through coordination and good governance poverty will lessen

thus increase the people’s social status. Different programs

were developed in aid to problem and solving this in

participation with its people. One of these programs in

assisting families, individuals to develop their abilities

also with their resources is F.R.A.M.E (Family Resource

Allocation Management and Enhancement). It is a community

and value-based capability building program aimed at

empowering communities and constituents to socio-economic

engagements and self-help livelihood opportunities. It is a

special program of the Local Government of General Santos as

an anti-poverty strategy. Generally, FRAME Program is a

mass-based savings system where people and community own a

project which operates on trust, love, cooperation, and

mutual help. Likewise, it promotes family values,

spirituality, moral recovery and strengthening positive

virtues rather than promoting the dole-out and poverty

mentality of Filipinos. It is a series of organized and

purposive activities by socio-economic transformation

group’s members in the city working concertedly and in unity

towards the attainment of the established goals and

objectives.

Objectives of the Study

The study aims to look into the process and actual

implementation of Family Resource Allocation Management and

Enhancement (FRAME) project in General Santos City and be

able to assess how far the project had been in terms of

achieving its objectives. This study will also assess the

projects performance in terms of relevance, effectiveness,

efficiency, impact and sustainability.

Importance of the Study

This study will help the students of BS Agribusiness

Management and other fields to under to understand the

process of implementation and identifying the existing

problems and the relevance and impact of the project Family

Resource Allocation Management and Enhancement (FRAME)

project to the beneficiaries through conducting this study.

Scope and Limitation

This study focused on the performance of the Family Resource

Allocation Management and Enhancement (FRAME) project from

2011 to 2013. The relevance, effectiveness, efficiency,

impact and sustainability of the implementation of the

project are the main concerns of the study.

Methodology

This study was made possible through interview with the

personnel in charge of Family Resource Allocation Management

and Enhancement in General Santos City, the CSWDO workers

and as well as the beneficiaries of the project. The authors

also looked into some pertinent records and data of the

trainers to supplement the interviews conducted.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

General Santos City has a poverty incidence of 20.28%.

However, Livability Cluster of the City Development Council

targeted to reduce this incidence to 15% where the 10%

ultra-poor as its priority for intervention. Bayanihan

Savings Replication Project (BSRP) was verbally introduced

by then Secretary Joey Lina, Jr. to LGUs participating in

the Street and Urban Working Children Project (SUWCP) during

its year-end conference on December 5, 2002 at Grand

Boulevard Hotel, Manila where he stressed the three

principles: All can save, even poor; No God, No success;

Synergy - there is power in unity. BSRP was initially

implemented at the Field Operations Divisions of the City

Social Welfare and Development Office involving 23 staff to

test the concept’s doability by organizing on January 31,

2003 a Socio-economic Transformation Group (SET-G). By April

30, 2003, the organized SET-G has a total savings of 12,280.

On February 28, 2003 a formal orientation was conducted on

BSRP to all Local Chief Executives in Manila and this was

followed with the issuance of the Memorandum Circular No.

2003-35 directing all City/Municipal Mayors and DILG

Executives to adopt the BSRP. As a result of the said thrust

and direction, the CSWDO, on March 27, 2003, presented the

concept of F.R.A.M.E Project to the Project Management Group

(PMG) and to hon. City Mayor Pedro B. Achoron, Jr. who

favorably indorsed to Sangguniang Panlunsod the CSWDO’s

request for supplemental budget for the implementation of

the F.R.A.M.E project. On May 16, 2003, the F.R.A.M.E.

Project was formally launched in the city as an anti-poverty

initiative highlighting the signing of Hon. Mayor Pedro

Achoron, Jr. of Executive Order No. 14, Series of 2003

adopting the concept of BSRP establishing the F.R.A.M.E. in

General Santos City. The PMG for the said project was also

created with the issuance of Executive Order No. 15, series

of 2003 to oversee the implementation and facilitate

evaluation of the project.

Legal Basis

The program finds it bases in the 1987 Constitution on

the state policy to free the people from poverty; RA 8425-

Poverty Alleviation Act; policy of the state to adopt an

area-based, sectoral and focused intervention to poverty

alleviation; DILG MC 2003-2005 which directs all government

units to actively implement the BSRP, these mandates along

with the various Executive Orders and Ordinances passed

brought about the creation of resources and livelihood

opportunities; the development of group cohesiveness

(bayanihan spirit); discourage dole-out and poverty

mentality and it focuses on the development of an

individual’s interpersonal, financial, management and

leadership skills, a desirable state of being and strong

community participation, to which what good governance is

all about. E.O 14 series of 2003, mandates the CSWDO to

implement F.R.A.M.E as poverty alleviation strategy in

General Santos City. RA 7160, the Local Government Code

promotes the establishment and operation of people’s and NGO

to become active partners in the pursuit of local autonomy.

PROJECT PROFILE

I. Project Title:

Family Resource Allocation Management Enhancement

(FRAME) Saver’s Movement

II. Proponent:

Local Government Unit (LGU), City Social Welfare

Development Organization (CSWDO)

III. Target Beneficiary:

This project is open to all resident of any

barangay of General Santos City with legal age and

is willing to actively participate to the

activities and trainings to be conducted in

relation to the improvement of one’s self.

IV. Goals

The goal of the FRAME Saver’s movement is to

empower the community and project participants to

develop and improve their socio-economic

conditions.

V. Objectives

The Objectives of the FRAME Saver’s Movement are

the following:

- To increase individual’s capability of managing

own and family resources;

- To help individual to access for resources and

livelihood opportunities;

- To improve the value system of partner

beneficiaries to include caring of families and

children;

- To develop social/group cohesiveness and

individual’s participation through productive

activities;

- To enhance individual’s skills on leading

families and children, group and work related

affairs.

SCHEME OF IMPLEMENTATION

A. Creation of concept of F.R.A.M.E. as povertyalleviation strategy in General Santos City.

The CSWDO presented the Project in the city as anti-poverty.

B. Coordinate with 26 Barangays to implement the saidproject.

In every barangay, the CSWDO assigned onecoordinator to introduce the concept of FRAME andwill do the monitoring.

Social Workers of each barangays will have its HomeBase Visit to every resident in the barangay andencourage them to participate and become a member ofthe said project.

C. Selection of Beneficiaries of the project.

This project is open to all resident of any barangaywith legal age and is willing to activelyparticipate to the activities and trainings to beconducted in relation to the improvement of one’sself.

D. Orientation

The CSWDO assigned coordinator will conductorientation to all individuals who are willing to bepart of the project with regards to the policies,rules and regulation of the project.

E. Filling of Membership Form, Application Form todifferent Savings and passing of requirements.

Each individual who wants to be a member wererequired to fill up first a membership form and anapplication form to different savings he/she wantsto avail. They will pass birth/marriage certificateas a requirement.

F. Social Preparation and Group Formation

Advocacy on F.R.A.M.E. Savings Movement to thegeneral public;

Orientation on F.R.A.M.E. Savings Movement toselected potential leaders and public officials;

Organization of Socio-Economic Transformation Group(SET-G)

G. Capacity Building

Competency/Skills Buildingo This includes the conduct of Rapid Savings

Mobilization Technique (RSMT) 1 and 2 where theperspective in joining SET-G deepened.

Character Developmento Includes the conduct of value-based and

character building seminars, trainings andworkshop to align personal value to theF.R.A.M.E. principle.

Resource Generationo This includes provision of strategies to

improve personal and family financialmanagement and their ability to draw resourcesfrom legitimate sources.

H. Conduct of Meetings

Weekly Sessionso This refers to the conduct of directional

sessions to SET-G members with the use of 4W’s:

Welcome, Worship, Word and Work. This is toensure participation and involvement ofmembers.

Annual People’s Congresso This refers to the conduct of People’s Congress

where all members of SET-Gs in the city cometogether for fellowship and unite towardsaffirmation of its success.

I. General Assembly

The General Assembly is composed of the totalmembers of the General Santos City F.R.A.M.E.Federation Savers. The General Assembly shall meetonce a year preferably every 3rd week of July to meetother SET-G members; affirm success of each memberand that of the SET-Gs.

J. Reporting/Monitoring

Reportingo Report on the implementation of the FRAME

Saver’s Movement shall be done to the LocalChief Executive by the F.R.A.M.E. ProjectManagement Group on the quarterly basis.

Monitoringo Monitoring shall be done by the Technical

Services Division of the CSWDO in coordinationwith City Planning and Development Office.Monitoring tool shall be designed for thispurpose in consultation with the FRAME Saver’sMovement Coordinator.

PROJECT OPERATION

Project operation and activities

The Family Resource Allocation and Management Enhancement(FRAME)

Gathering of members

The social worker of every barangay will gather thirty

(30) volunteered members or more with a leader and a

treasurer who collects the monthly mortuary contribution of

Php 40.00 and voluntary contributions on education and

livelihood and even travel by some members who choose to

avail of these benefits.

Orientation

The aim of this is to explain to each applicant the

profile, objectives, goals, mission, vision of the frame and

how it can help to reduce incidence of poverty thru saving a

part of their income and adopting positive family values

that are innate in human beings.

Filling of membership form

Each applicant should fill up a membership form to

avail the benefits of frame. They should pay P50.00 which

covers expenses for an identification card - P 25.00,

passbook - P 20.00 and membership form - P 5.00.

Election of officers

To formalize the group the social worker conduct

election of officers among members for the position of a

leader and treasurer for the purpose of having the

connection with the social worker and also that there will

be persons to lead the group so that they will not depend on

the social worker alone. The elected officer will undergo

seminar which will be hosted by the PMG.

Conduct of Meetings

1. Weekly Sessions – This refers to the conduct of

directional sessions to SET-G members with the use of 4Ws:

Welcome, Worship, Word and Work.  This is to ensure

participation and involvement of members in the movement and

so as not to lose track to the goals and objectives for

which the group is organized.

2. People’s Congress – An annual celebration that gathers of

all the members of the F.R.A.M.E Program to celebrate and

fellowship. It is basically a general assembly of all

program participants which has been a major yearly event

that showcases the strength and impact of the program in

many facets. 

BENEFITS AVAILED BY THE F.R.A.M.E MEMBERS

PhilHealth

F.R.A.M.E members are all enrolled in PhilHealth, which

is mandated to provide the basic health care services thru

social health insurance under the Republic Act 7875. The

members are required to pay their PhilHealth contribution at

Php 1,200.00 annually.

MAFMA

It is the Mutual Aid Fund for Mortuary Assistance; this

can help the member who seeks assistance for burial

services. Each member pays php 40 every month for mortuary

contribution and this will be collected by the treasurer.

The members can avail the benefits of this MAFMA with in the

period of six (6) months. If the recipient died he can get

Php 20, 000 and his beneficiary can get Php 10, 000.

Education

The aim of frame is to increased number of children

sent to school as parents attitude are changing, putting

value on children’s education and saving for children’s

school and daily needs; they can avail loan from their

savings for educational assistance and purposes.

Livelihood

The members may also avail a loan for the purpose of putting

up a business. They can avail a loan of php 5, 000 if they

can save atleast Php 1, 000. This will be paid Php 215

weekly.

PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. Approval and Establishing of F.R.A.M.E project in General

Santos City.

The CSWDO, on March 27, 2003, presented the concept of

Family Resource Allocation and Management Enhancement

(F.R.A.M.E) project to the Project Management Group (PMG)

and to former Hon. City Mayor Pedro B. Acharon Jr. On May

16, 2003, the F.R.A.M.E Project was formally launched in the

city as an anti-poverty initiative high lightning the

signing of former Hon. Mayor Pedro B. Acharon Jr. of

Executive Order No. 14, Series of 2003 adopting the concept

of BSRP establishing the F.R.A.M.E in General Santos City.

The PMG for the said project was also created with the

issuance of Executive Order No. 15, Series of 2003 to

oversee the implementation and facilitate evaluation of the

project.

2. Proper coordination of the project to the Barangays of

General Santos City.

Executive Order No. 14, Series of 2003 mandates the

City Social Welfare Office to implement F.R.A.M.E as a

poverty alleviation strategy, simultaneously creates the

Project Management Group (PMG) to oversee the implementation

of F.R.A.M.E of every barangay in the city. The PMG is the

body created by Executive Order No. 16, Series of 2003 task

to oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of

all the phases of the Project.

3. The implementation of the project accomplished number of

groups.

For the years of implementation of the project, there

were 65,225 SET-G members of Socio-Economic Transformation

Groups organized as of 2013 and each group has SET-G Leader.

All SET-G Potential Leader are pre-identified by area social

workers and the PMG Chairperson shall appoint SET-G Leader.

The choosing of beneficiaries and participants were done by

the area social worker with the assistance of barangay and

purok officials.

4. Conducts training of Socio-Economic Transformation Staff

(SETS) as F.R.A.M.E. Project organizer, promoter and

skilled trainer.

The Program Management Group (PMG) assists the local

government unit and the barangay in the conduct of the

Directional Sessions. The SET-G Leader and Staff will be

trained to facilitate a meeting, to conduct the weekly

directional sessions and financial records of the group.

This is also aimed to motivate and encourage the SET-G

Leader and Staff in continuing the work especially in their

group they handled.

5. Regular Meeting of PMG, SET-G Leaders and SET-Groups.

They schedule regular meetings for PMG every 4th

Wednesday of the third month (Quarterly), with notice sent

to every member at least 1 week prior to schedule meeting by

the PMG Chairman. And the schedule of the meeting of SET-G

Leaders is every last Friday of the month, and for regular

meeting of SET-Groups is once a week agreed by the group at

convenient time and place.

6. Conducted evaluation and affirmation of success of each

member and SET-Gs.

The F.R.A.M.E. Savers’ Movement conducted General

Assembly once a year preferably every 3rd week of July to

meet and acquaint with other SET-G members. This is done to

affirm the success of each member and to address that issue

that will help the project improved and it also designed for

implementation review.

7. Development in the Community

The F.R.A.M.E. Savers’ Movement accomplished so much

number of Socio-Economic Transformation Group (SET-Gs.) were

organized with families have remain saving and the positive

values gained from the conduct of weekly directional

sessions have transformed their lives and there are families

availed the capital loan for their income-generating

projects coming from their own savings. The community also

encouraged and motivated to save money instead of doing

unnecessary activities and spending money in useless

purposes.

PROJECT EVALUATION

A. RELEVANCE

Saving has been constantly disregarded by people. They

would say that their income is even not enough for the

consumption of the family. FRAME Saver’s Movement project

teaches the people of General Santos City that despite of

poverty that they are experiencing, they will be able to set

aside even just a minimal amount to tide them in times of

emergent and dire needs. CSWDO before has been constantly

faced with several people seeking assistance for

hospitalization, emergency transportation and burial

services, thus the pursuance of the project help them ease

the problem.

The FRAME project is relevant to present condition

because it serves as a poverty alleviation strategy which

empowers the participants or members of the Socio-Economic

Transformation Groups (SET - Gs) to uplift their socio-

economic conditions. People upon realizing the value of

money, begins to save for their future used. Hence, the

movement is geared towards purposive savings and security of

life. This project is a proof that even the poor can save.

B. EFFECTIVENESS

The project achieved its purpose to effectively manage on

the development of interpersonal, financial management,

leadership and cooperative skills. The project encouraged

the community to save for the purpose that they use the

saved money in the events that they really needs. The

project also helps those people whole always spend time in

gambling in the near house. The workers of project achieved

to motivate the people to save money. As the year goes by,

the member of the project increases. And many member availed

assistance coming from their savings.

C. EFFICIENCY

The government put emphasis on its human resources upon

establishing the FRAME Saver’s Movement project that was

entrusted to the CSWDO, since it’s the human resources that

is all needed in starting this project. These resources, the

human resources were used efficiently by the project. The

active participation, monitoring and guidance of the social

workers of every Barangay are the evidence of the

efficiency. As a result, there were many other residents of

General Santos City that were encouraged to become a member

of the said project because of the good management they have

observed. The social workers of CSWDO still works for

expansion of this project by keep on encouraging the

residents to join so that they could save.

D. IMPACT

The members of the FRAME Saver’s Movement are now

enjoying the benefits of their savings upon realizing its

importance. With their little amount of savings, they can

already avail all the benefits that the project has offered

like the membership of PhilHealth, MAFMA, Education and

Livelihood. This project plays an important role in their

day to day living. Through this project, their relationship

to God and to their fellow has improved. This is due to

learning they reflected from the sharing of the Gospel every

time they meet. Many other residents of any Barangay in

General Santos City became interested of being a member of

FRAME Saver’s Movement after hearing the testimonies of

those members already.

E. SUSTAINABILITY

The Local Government Unit will continue to support

FRAME Saver’s Movement as one of the project of CSWDO, since

it is a pro-people project which concerns the welfare of the

residents in General Santos City. The government will

continue to support this through filling their manpower

requirement. The government will continue to send social

workers in every barangay so that they could cope up the

need of social workers as the number of their members’

increases. The social worker will maintain professional

relationships with the members, acting as guides, advocates

or critical friends that enable members to help their own

selves in uplifting their lives.

RECOMMENDATION

Close monitoring of the project.

Continue to encourage those inactive members.

The Project Management Group (PMG)

The PMG is the body created by Executive Order 16, series

of 2003 task to oversee the planning, implementation and

evaluation of the General Santos F.R.A.M.E. Project.

The PMG is composed of the following:

CSWDO - Chairperson

Share an opportunity Phil. (SAO, Phil) -Deputy

Bread of Life Ministries -member

Dadiangas Baptist Church -member

DILG-GSC -member

Office of the City Mayor -member

FRAME Savers Representative -member

PMG Duties and Functions

a. Recommends to appropriate bodies for their approval,

policy and standards of management and operations for

the success of the project;

b. Oversee and responsible for the planning,

implementation and evaluation of all the phases of the

project;

c. Monitor, review and evaluate reports as basis for

appropriate actions;

d. Recommend to the local government unit national line

agencies and NGOs successful F.R.A.M.E. Group

livelihood activities for fund reports;

e. Assist the local government unit in the conduct of the

general assembly of all stakeholders particularly those

described under Section III of Executive Order No. 14,

series of 2003;

f. Conducts training of Socio-Economic Transformation

Staff (SETS) as F.R.A.M.E. Project organizers,

promoters and skilled trainers;

g. Submit reports regularly to the DILG and City Mayor

Officers of SET- Groups

There are only three officers in every SET-G: SET G

Leader, SET-G Secretary and SET-G Treasurer.

Duties of Officers of SET-Gs

a. SET-G Leader

1. The SET G Leader presides in every meeting and shall

ensure that SET-G activities are conducted consistent

with existing policies of F.R.A.M.E.

2. The SET G Leader will be trained to facilitate a

meeting, conduct the weekly directional session and

manage its own SET-G.

b. SET-G Secretary

1. The SET-G Secretary assists the SET-G Leader in

recording of SET-G activities.

2. The SET-G Secretary prepares monthly report duly signed

by the SET-G leader and submitted to CSWDO.

c. SET-G Treasurer

1. The SET-G Treasurer shall receive all savings and the

other SET-G revenues and deposit these to the

designated F.R.A.M.E. bank account.

2. The SET-G Treasurer provides copy of deposit slips to

MIS.

As of October, 15 2010 there were more than 32,000 with a

savings of 21M.

208 members benefited from MAFMA for which the Savers

Movement Release 1,940,731.

May 20, 2011 there were more than 35,000 members with a

total savings of 32M.