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FRUITFUL
PARTNERSHIP. Assumption Alumnae Association Inc. (AAA) through
its Assumption Cares program, recently held a memorandum of
agreement signing and check turnover with Philippine Business
for Social Progress (PBSP) at the Assumption College in Makati
City. The partnership is for a P1.3M project called 'Food for
the Table' Bio-Intensive Gardening Project for Yolanda survivors
in Mercedes, Eastern Samar. |
Assumption alumnae
help sustain communities in Eastern Samar
By PBSP
October 14, 2015
EASTERN SAMAR – In
the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda, the once thriving coastal town
of Mercedes in Eastern Samar was reduced to rubble, leaving families
homeless, without food and livelihood.
One of the organizations
that heeded the call for help is the Assumption Alumnae Association
(AAA) through the Assumption Cares program. They adopted six barangays
in the municipality of Mercedes by rebuilding their houses, repairing
their parish halls, and constructing disaster-resilient domes that
will serve as community centers in Barangay Busay.
As the program is nearing
its completion, AAA decided to continue their support leading to the
sustainability of the residents who lost their livelihood. “We don’t
want to end the project with just homes, we want to give them
something to sustain their lives,” said Regina Hechanova, Assumption
Cares Program Chairperson.
Hence, they partnered with
Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) for a short-term
livelihood project called “Food on the Table” through Bio-Intensive
Gardening (BIG). The project which is part of Assumption Cares’
continuing program in Mercedes, aims to benefit at least 100
households in Brgy. Busay.
PBSP, in collaboration with
the local government of Mercedes and the Municipal Agriculture Office,
will conduct training sessions on BIG technology for the recipients
and build 100 bio-intensive gardens in selected households.
Implementation of the P1.3 million project began last month and is
expected to be completed in February 2016.
AAA and PBSP recently signed
a memorandum of agreement and check turnover for the project. Present
during the event were Regina Gabaldon-Hechanova, Board Member and
Chairperson, Assumption Cares Program; Ma. Luisa Ledesma, AAA
President; Connie G. Valdes, AAA Administrative Officer; Dida Salita,
AAA Trustee; Gina Africa-Aboitiz, AAA Member; former Ambassador
Bienvenido Tan, AAA Adviser and Sponsor, concurrent PBSP Trustee,
President and General Manager of The Bookmark, Inc.; Emma Tan, wife of
Amb. Tan; Roberto A. Umali, PBSP Trustee and Chief Operating Officer
of Magsaysay Transport and Logistics; Caroline Grace Pedragosa,
Director, PBSP Project Management Office-Livelihood and Enterprise
Development (LED); Mercedita Rosetes, Portfolio Manager of PBSP LED;
and Amy Chua, Portfolio Manager for Backbone Support of PBSP LED.
