The Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. (HBONI) has ramped up its literacy, livelihood, and disaster preparedness work in Sitio Madaja, Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, with Project Tikang volunteers leading a hands-on learning session for pupils on Sunday, March 22.

Since 2022, when children in this community were cut off from formal schooling, the activity has been a lifeline—bringing dozens of eager learners together for reading and basic education sessions that keep informal learning alive and growing.

With the establishment of Madaja Elementary School, the initiative now supports the literacy programs of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Project Tikang is a collaborative initiative that unites partners from government, civil society, and the private sector to tackle critical gaps in underserved communities. It combines interventions in education, livelihood, health, environmental sustainability, and community empowerment, recognizing that these issues are interconnected and demand a coordinated response.

As part of this approach, the SOLERA group led community preparedness sessions, equipping residents with first aid knowledge and basic emergency response skills—efforts that will form part of a broader, community-led preparedness plan.

HBONI also advanced livelihood development.

Registered agriculturist Leonel Flores, along with volunteers, assessed available land for the planned cultivation of bulb onions and spring onions.

The project aims to offer an additional income stream for residents, complementing the community’s existing tikog weaving industry.

Project Tikang head Reymund Titong said the initiative shows how sustained collaboration can drive change in underserved communities, while also exposing long-standing gaps.

“We have seen progress—from a community without a school to one where children now have access to learning, and families are beginning to build livelihoods,” Titong said.

He emphasized that social issues should not be exploited for political gain, noting that the concern extends beyond a single community.

“Poverty, limited access to education, and insufficient basic social services must never be exploited as instruments of political maneuvering—whether to secure support, sway votes, or advance vested interests—while the genuine needs of communities across the country remain unaddressed,” he said.

Titong called for stronger collaboration across sectors to close these gaps.

“Government and non-government sectors must work together on what has been left unaddressed. If we ask who will respond—the answer is all of us. Filipinos can, if we choose to work together,” he added.

“As long as we hold each other’s arms, beyond our differences, we can move forward as a community and as a country.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Negros Producers (ANP), a long-time partner, also conducted a visit to support the continued implementation of the Balik-Salig program of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental (PGNO), in coordination with the Army’s 94th Infantry Battalion, as part of its role in the Peace and Order Council.

The said military unit has likewise been a key partner in advancing HBONI’s initiatives.*