Social Action Center of the Diocese of Ilagan (SAC – Ilagan)

Social Action Center of the Diocese of Ilagan (SAC – Ilagan) was established in 1985 as the development arm of the Diocese of IIagan in the Province of Isabela that will be primarily involved in the formation and strengthening of Basic Ecclesiastical Communities. The first developmental program of the local church in Isabela was the Center for Relief and Rehabilitation Services (CRRS) through CRRS-Cagayan Valley. 

It also organized the Community-Based Health Program, Alay Kapwa and other peasant-related programs. SAC-Ilagan runs various desks for peasants, women, justice and peace, cooperatives, ecology, and migrants, as well as the Indigenous People’s Apostolate, Center for Relief and Rehabilitation Services and the Community-Based Health Program. 

The participatory local governance advocacy of the organization involves monitoring of infrastructure projects. Its members serve as observers in the Bids and Awards Committee at the Department of Public Works and Highway District 1, Department of Education and provincial government. More social accountability initiatives involve the close monitoring of election-related activities and just distribution of medicines at the Santiago District Hospital. All of these activities are handled by the Justice and Peace Desk of the organization. Their sustainable agriculture advocacy is taken by the Peasant Desk while the environmental concerns on mining, illegal logging and genetically modified organism are tackled as a concerted effort of all pastoral programs of the local church.

SAC is an active member of the Provincial Development Council and the People’s Alliance for Justice, Democracy and Good Governance (PAJDGG), a local alliance group in Isabela. Its programs are mobilized by the Basic Ecclesiastical Communities with support from NGOs partners. There are also peasants with livelihood programs who donate part of their earnings to the organization.