Business Planning Conducted for GK Cut & Sew

A three-day Business Planning Workshop from February 16-18 for the 26 members of GK Cut and Sew Group was held at the Lipa Integrated Coffee Center (LICC) of Nestle Philippines Lipa Plant. 

The activity was facilitated by Center for Small Entrepreneurs (CSE) and LRC's Gizelle Ponce. Julius Paradero of Gawad Kalinga and Rob Roque of Nestle Philippines, Inc. were also in the activity to provide inputs and guidance.  

The activity is part of the Accenture-funded Gabay sa Kabuhayan Project. With Accenture and in partnership with Nestle Philippines, Inc., Gawad Kalinga, and PBSP, the project capacitated women sewers from the Nestle-Gawad Kalinga MRB Eco-Village and gave them  start-up capital for the production of hairnets, sack bags, shorts, pants, and uniforms. These are being bought by the Nestle -Lipa Plant and some traders in Metro Manila. 

Livelihood Team Visits QPL-Assisted Groups

The LRC Livelihood Team visited Mauban, Quezon to  monitor the status of BMMI Demo Farm Project and K4C2 Buri Handicrafts Production Project. The Bukluran ng Magsasaka ng Mauban, Inc. (BMMI) and Kapatiran ng Kababaihan para sa Kalusugan at Kalinisan ng Kagsiay 2 (K4C2) are peoples’ organizations assisted by Quezon Power Ltd. (QPL) for more than 10 years now and have undergone capacity building activities with PBSP since 2009. 

The two groups are implementing (1) The Demo Farm Project, where at least 10 BMMI members utilize organic methods such as Vermicomposting to produce high-value crops for the local market; and (2) The Buri Handicraft Production Project, where 10 or more K4C2 members weave bags and other handicrafts out of buri, an endemic plant in Quezon, as part of the province’s One-Town-One-Product Program. 

PLDT Turns Over New Balik Baterya Classrooms in Bicol

Last August 2014, PLDT has turned over 3 classrooms in Bicol as continued support to the call for better access to quality education.

Cogon Elementary School in Irosin, Sorsogon was granted 2 classrooms and Colegio de Sta. Rita in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur was given assistance for 1 classroom of their 24-classroom building.

“In line with our business of bridging people and communities here and abroad, we chose education as a major corporate social responsibility program because we acknowledge that more opportunities can be accessed by children and youth who have completed their basic education. We are happy to share that PLDT is building more classrooms nationwide,” said Ms Evelyn del Rosario, PLDT Community Relations Head.

PLDT has long been supporting the construction of new classrooms to address defective and hazardous environment that impedes learning of pupils. The sad state is that more often, teachers and students make most of the resources available and continue to hold classes in dilapidated structures. With these new classrooms, young people will now have a more conducive environment for learning.

This donation was made possible by PLDT’s funds in the Balik Baterya Program of Motolite and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). To date, PLDT, as the Program’s top donor, has turned over almost 1.5 million kilos of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) amounting to P27 million pesos. With its ULABs, the company was able to provide 54 Learning Resource Centers or mini-libraries; construct roads, drainage systems and other facilities such as multi-purpose centers; and organize TB prevention programs. Also with the funds, PLDT was able to construct 11 new classrooms and repaired 6 classrooms nationwide.

“Thank you, PLDT, for this significant contribution to both environment and education. Your donation will surely be benefiting many generations to come. Thank you for the partnership as we work together in improving the lives of more Filipinos,” said PBSP Luzon Regional Center Manager, Ms Kristine J. Rivadelo during the turnover ceremonies in Colegio de Sta Rita last August 14.