Sagay city: Sagay City in Negros Occidental is planning to transform Purok Bougainvillea in Barangay Old Sagay into a creative village. This initiative aims to empower the coastal community by integrating creative industries into its livelihood programs, thereby boosting the sustainable income of community savings groups.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Bougainvillea Community Savings Association (BOCSA) has gathered PHP1.756 million in community funds through small weekly contributions, which was shared among its 199 members last December. Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva praised the efforts of the community-managed savings and credit association (COMSCA) in Purok Bougainvillea, emphasizing the power of community-led initiatives in fostering change and building financial resilience.
COMSCA records reveal that the savings were accumulated by several groups, including BOSCA 1, BOCSA 1 Junior, BOCSA 2, BOCSA 3, BOCSA 4, BOCSA 4 Junior, and BOCSA 5, with each group consisting of 21 to 32 members. The initiative began with the Bougainvillea Sikad Guides Association, participating in two years of savings as part of Sagay City's tourism sustainability framework. These savings have enabled BOCSA groups to conduct outreach programs, such as house rebuilding and community clean-up drives.
Furthermore, BOSCA members have received training from the start-up development consulting company, Engaging and Empowering Nation Builders in Learning, Research, and Social Entrepreneurship. This training aims to help replicate the community savings scheme across other puroks and barangays in northern Negros City.
Old Sagay village chief Rogelio Sayam noted that Purok Bougainvillea is now the pilot community for COMSCA in Sagay City. The initiative allows members to rely less on barangay assistance due to their pooled savings. City Social Welfare and Development Officer Henrik Ollano described the COMSCA initiative as a 'scratch-to-riches' model that empowers communities through self-help, expressing hopes to replicate it city-wide and integrate it with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Ollano also highlighted that junior saver groups teach young people the importance of money and early savings.
