Rotarians spread joy in Olango

Singapore-based members of the Rotary and Rotaract Club visited Olango Island last December 14, 2007. The team was led by Mr. Philip Tan, Chair of the Rotary Club Cebu West and Member of the PBSP Visayas Executive Committee.

The trip to Olango was part of the Rotarians exposure to various Metro Cebu communities. They provided school supplies to the pupils of Candagsao Elementary School. They also planted mangroves in San Vicente.

Olango Island is one of the three priority ecosystems of PBSP’s Metropolitan Cebu Area Resource Management Program. The other two focus areas are the Cebu Hillylands and the highly urbanized communities in Metro Cebu. PBSP’s agenda in Olango are environmental rehabilitation, access to basic services such as health and water, and economic empowerment of the fisher folks.

PBSP partners with PEZA for the Buhisan watershed rehabilitation

PBSP sealed an agreement with the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) for the Buhisan Watershed Integrated Development Program on December 7, 2007. The other parties of the engagement are the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), Cebu Uniting for Sustainable Water (CUSW) and Visayas Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Business and Environment Cluster led by Lexmark International Philippines.

Buhisan is one of the five watersheds within the Central Cebu Protected Landscape. It is one of MCWD’s major water sources. MCWD, in turn, supplies half of Metro Cebu’s household and industrial water requirement.

Buhisan was identified as a priority site of the Business and Environment cluster because of its prime importance to Metro Cebu’s development. The Buhisan Watershed Integrated Development Program aims to revitalize the degraded watershed through conservation and education or advocacy campaigns.

Specifically, the program focuses on: ecology and biodiversity conservation; economic empowerment of the families living in Buhisan; health and sanitation; ecological governance and law enforcement; eco-cultural tourism development; and information, communication and education.

The MDG is a covenant ratified by 189 member states of the United Nations (UN) to eliminate poverty and worst forms of human deprivation in 2015. PBSP, as the UN and the Philippine government’s partner, is tasked to rollout the MDG among the members of the private sector. PBSP created four Business and the MDG clusters so that private sector response is more strategic. These are the Business and Poverty, Business and Health, Business and Education, and Business and Environment.

PBSP turns over a multi-purpose building

The Angelo King Foundation, Inc. (AKI), through PBSP, donated a two-storey multi-purpose building to the Tayuranon Multi-Purpose Cooperative (TMPC). The turnover was held on November 29, 2007.

TMPC, based in Barangay Tayud, Municipality of Consolacion, Cebu, is composed of furniture producers and subcontractors. PBSP’s engagement with TMPC began in 2004 through the Project Access funded by San Miguel Corporation. The packages of assistance for TMPC are organizational development, capability building, marketing and product development.

The multi-purpose building will serve as business and training center for TMPC. It will also house the future Barangay Tayud Community Resource Center.

Since 1991, AKFI’s partnership with PBSP has resulted in the establishment of 150 buildings for community-based organizations nationwide. Over P45 million has been channeled by AKFI for the construction of warehouses, livelihood, technology, training and multi-purpose centers.

There are more than 92,000 landless rural workers, sustenance fisherfolks, marginal upland farmers and urban poor workers who benefit from the projects.

Mr. Macario P. Balali of East Asia Utilities, member of PBSP in the Visayas' Workforce and Education Committee, represented PBSP during the turnover.

Seaweeds farming in Guimaras

PBSP implements a seaweeds farming project in the Municipality of Sibunag, Province of Guimaras. The project was funded by PHINMA Foundation Inc. and Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation.

The project will benefit the families in the fishing communities of Alegria, Bubog, Sabang, San Isidro and Sebaste. They are among the over 4,000 households affected by the August 2006 oil spill in Guimaras.

Christmas Cards Artworks Showcase

This Yuletide season, PBSP will showcase
100 Christmas-inspired artworks
by young Visayan artists.

And these timeless artworks can be yours!

Since 1991, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
has collected numerous artworks and produced thousands
of Christmas cards to raise funds for the reforestation
of the Cebu Hillylands - Cebu's source of water.

Be with us this December 6 to 8, 2007
at The Northwing at SM City Cebu

(Entrance 8 Hallway, Upper Ground Floor, fronting Swiss Gear)
The opening will be this December 6 at 2:00 P.M.

For more information, you may reach the PBSP Visayas Regional Office
at +6332 2325270 or 2325283. Please look for Olive or Malu.

Art inspires.
Nature inspires.
Christmas inspires.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See all the Christmas cards artworks at
www.pbsp-christmascards.blogspot.com

ADVISORY

Dear PBSP Members, Partners and Friends,

Good day!

We are currently updating the PBSP Visayas blog. This is in line with our goal to better inform you about the latest activities and engagements of the foundation, as well as to keep you posted on emerging priorities that PBSP is looking into. This is also in preparation for the celebration of PBSP’s 20th Year in the Visayas this coming February 20, 2008.

Kindly email your comments or suggestions to Jessie at jmcubijano@gmail.com. We hope that the PBSP Visayas blog will be part of your daily habit. Have a nice day!

Sincerely,
The PBSP Visayas Regional Office Team

Sibunag Seaweeds Project Launched

(Left. The guests and beneficiaries during the launching. Right. The billboard during the unveiling.)

“Hope floats after the oil spill disaster”.

This was the general feeling when the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and its partner, the Trans Asia Oil and Energy Development Corporation, launched the Sibunag Seaweed Farming Project last June 1, 2007. This was done in the Municipality of Sibunag, Province of Guimaras.

The project is a part of the Guimaras Area Resource Management Program (GARMP), which is PBSP’s response to the August 11, 2006 MT Solar 1 oil spill disaster in the province. PBSP with its member companies aim to help the affected communities have access to livelihood opportunities. One of these companies is the Trans Asia Oil, which is a subsidiary of the Phinma Group of Companies, an active PBSP Member Company, based in Makati City, Philippines.

On May 31, 2007, one day before the launching, PBSP met the community leaders of the five participating coastal barangays in the Municipality of Sibunag, namely: Bubog, San Isidro, Alegria, Sebaste and Sabang, which was also co-facilitated by the Municipal Agriculture Office of Sibunag. During this orientation attended by more than 30 beneficiaries and guests, the Sibunag Municipal Agriculture Officer, Mr. Paciano Opelario, welcomed everybody and encouraged the beneficiaries to participate actively. Mr. Danilo Cerence, Manager of PBSP Visayas, discussed the project briefly.

(Left. Consulting the beneficiaries during the site selection. Right. During the project orientation.)

Further, PBSP, through its Technical Officer, Mr. Rey Oliver Perez, conducted a basic orientation on the farming practices or monoline seaweed farming. There was an open forum conducted which discussed various issues pertaining to the project.

To close the one-day orientation, Engr. Arlon Menchavez, Plant Superintendent of Trans Asia Oil, Guimaras Plant, thanked the beneficiaries for their involvement and challenged the stakeholder to implement the project to the best of their ability.

The following day, June 1, 2007, the project was officially launched, attended by more than 50 beneficiaries and guests.

PBSP, with Trans Asia Oil and the Municipality of Sibunag signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the five participating barangays, for their participation on the Sibunag Seaweeds Project. Engr. Danilo Panes, Vice President of Trans Asia Oil and Engr. Arlon Menchavez, Trans Asia Oil Guimaras Plant Superintendent, were present. Also represented were the government line agencies, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, the Guimaras Provincial Planning and Development Officer (PPDO), and the representative of the Mayor of Sibunag, Councilor Fe Segovia.

(Left. During the MOA signing with participating barangays. Right. Engr. Panes giving his speech.)

Engr. Panes delighted the guests with his speech saying his hopes for more progressive communities now with the seaweed projects. The Mayor’s representative delivered a rousing speech saying how glad the Municipality is to have received such assistance from Trans Asia Oil and PBSP. Engr. Corpuz, Guimaras PPDO delivered a short but inspiring message to the farmers. Mr. Rebecca De la Cerna, the Senior Provincial Agriculturist, delivered the closing message by telling the history leading towards the organization of the Sibunag Seaweeds Growers Federation.

Part II of the project launching was held in Brgy. Sabang, Sibunag. Guests and beneficiaries traveled to the coastal site where the project billboard was unveiled led by Engr. Panes of Trans Asia Oil. Afterwards was a ceremonial planting of seaweeds on a monoline and representatives from the participating beneficiaries placed the monoline on the sea. This showed how the project is being done.

(During the ceremonial seaweeds planting; with community leaders and guests.)

Beneficiaries and the local officials appreciated the successful two-day activities, as they consider the project a blessing after the oil spill tragedy that could help the affected communities generate additional income.

(The monoline launched to the sea after the ceremonial planting.)

The 19th PBSP VAMM

The Philippine Business for Social Progress - Visayas Regional Office is celebrating its 19th Visayas Annual Membership Meeting (VAMM) on February 21, 2007, at the Casino Espanol de Cebu.

The theme for the 19th VAMM is "Breaking Barriers" in reference to PBSP Visayas' various efforts in implementing projects aimed to integrate efforts to improve the quality of education in the country, and the various responses for disaster stricken areas. In doing these, PBSP Visayas envisions to break the barriers that hinder people from achieving prosperity and would give people ravaged by disasters a chance of a better life.

The Keynote Speaker for the 19th VAMM is Secretary Jesli Lapus of the Department of Education. He will also be the Guest of Honor during the opening and ribbon cutting ceremonies of the Education Expo and the Best of Visayas Exhibit, after the VAMM.

The BoV & Education Expo

The Philippine Business for Social Progress is inviting everybody to come and join the opening of the BEST OF VISAYAS (BoV) EXHIBIT and the EDUCATION EXPO, on February 21, 2007, at two o'clock in the afternoon at the SM City Trade Hall.

The BoV is a trade fair that gathers all PBSP assisted cooperatives, community-based organizations and micro-enterprises. Target participation of 33 coops, groups or enterprises from Bohol, Cebu, Guimaras, Iloilo, Samar and Southern Leyte.

The Educatio Expo is an education fair that provides marketing opportunities for education institutions e.g. pre-schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges, universities and distance learning. This is also a fund-raising activity for the Coalition for Better Education (CBE). (CBE, convened by PBSP, RAFI & AGFI is a consortium of business, government, academe & civil society working for the improvement of the country’s education.) The Education EXPO is co-organized by the Coalition for Better Education (CBE).

Both activities will run from February 21, 2007 to February 25, 2007.

Everybody is invited to come and visit the booths!

New Member Companies of PBSP

Six new Visayas-based Member Companies have been recruited by the Visayas Regional Office of PBSP. These companies will be acknowledged and given their plaque of memberships during the 19th VAMM on February 21, 2007, at the Casino Espanol de Cebu. These are:

PASAR CORPORATION (ISABEL, LEYTE)

BRILLIANT METAL CRAFT (CEBU CITY)

JJ's SEAFOODS VILLAGE (TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL)

THE BOHOL BEE FARM

LIGHT & SHADE PHOTOGRAPHY

and the ROYAL OAKS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF CEBU