PBSP turns over learning centers to public schools

PBSP turns over learning centers to public schools
Philippine News Agency
January 16, 2010

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), in partnership with Angelo King Foundation Inc. (AKFI), had just turned over the Technology and Livelihood Center to the Bohol Integrated Development Foundation Inc. (BIDEF) for their beneficiaries in Barangay Malitbog, Dagohoy.

PBSP Program Coordinator for Bohol Aurelio Salgados Jr. said AKFI’s assistance is intended to improve the productivity and income of the marginal farmers of Bohol.

Salgados said AKFI anchors their programs on the adage “give someone fish and you feed him for a day but teach someone to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”.

A total of 10 multi-purpose centers have already been established by AKFI through PBSP in the province of Bohol, said Salgados.

AKFI committed to provide additional assistance to establish more multi-purpose centers this year.

Fr. Victor Bompat, president of BIDEF, officiated the blessing of the technology center, while the turn-over ceremony was attended by AFI president Teddy Kingsu, AFI Board of Trustees member Joaquin Sy, PBSP Executive Director Rafael Lopa.

Governor Edgar Chatto was represented by LGU Affairs Coordinator Dodong Gacayan.

Local officials, BIDEF BOT, cooperatives and beneficiary farmers also attended the event.

The guests in the turn-over ceremony included Evelyn Del Rosario, senior manager for Community Relations and Public Affairs; Noly Cayabyab, CSR head of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation; Emmanule Ragaza of Oriental and Motolite Marketing Corporation; PBSP Executive Director Rafael Lopa; Jessie Cubijano, OIC of PBSP Visayas Regional Office; and Salgados.

One of PBSP’s major thrusts is poverty reduction which is aligned with the development thrust of the provincial government.

It is a way of implementing PBSPs vision of leading the business sector and get them involved in the reduction of poverty in the country, embedding the principle of Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

In the Visayas, PBSP is reaching out to the poverty groups such as small lowland farmers, marginal upland farmers, sustenance fisherfolk, urban poor and disadvantaged sectors such as children and youth.

PBSP also identified the provinces of Cebu, Samar, Iloilo and Bohol as priority areas for development interventions.

These provinces will implement flagship programs on sustainable livelihood and enterprise development, education, health and environment protection.

PBSP also aligns its development framework with the provincial government’s HEAT Bohol.

PBSP has been helping the province of Bohol since 1990s through its Bohol Area Resource Management Program (Bohol ARM).

At present, PBSP pursues programs and projects in the municipalities of Carmen, Dagohoy, San Miguel, Danao, and Trinidad.

It will be expanded to the other adjacent and rice-producing municipalities of Pilar, Sierra Bullones, Batuan, Bilar, and Loboc.