PBSP, Angelo King Foundation turn over training center for Bohol farmers

CEBU, Philippines - Three large private organizations have joined hands with the government, and accomplished the public-private partnership (PPPs) program as they turned over an agricultural training center at Brgy. Malitbog in Dagohoy town, Bohol recently.

The Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Angelo King Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) and the Bohol Integrated Development Foundation Inc., (BIDEF) completed the multi-purpose building where at least 10,000 farmers will be trained in sustainable agricultural production.

The PBSP and AKFI turned over to BIDEF the building, named BIDEF Technology and Livelihood Center, in ceremonies attended by top officials of the three organizations and Provincial LGU Affairs coordinator Reynaldo Gacayan, representing Governor Edgar Chatto, other government officials and beneficiary farmers.

BIDEF president Fr. Victor Bompat, accepted the center that will assist farmers by providing them with the technology on organic farming, specifically on vermiculture, which the provincial government has also been pushing for.

AKFI's board trustee Joaquin Sy, in his speech, said the center is a testimony of what public service can contribute for the development of the country.

"We believe that through our simple and humble collaboration, we can empower people and transform lives and together, we shall promote and nurture partnerships by sharing growth and prosperity at the local level," he said.

For 20 years, AKFI has partnered with PBSP in putting up 204 centers all over the country, and 10 of these are in Bohol. Sy added that AKFI has committed to provide more assistance to establish additional similar centers this year.

PBSP, in partnership with BIDEF, has carried out projects for the farmers in the towns of Carmen, Dagohoy, San Miguel, Danao, and Trinidad.

With the new center, these programs will be expanded to other adjacent and rice-producing towns–Pilar, Sierra Bullones, Batuan, Bilar, and Loboc–over a three-year period.

PBSP executive director Rafael Lopa, said: "Napakahalaga pong hanapin natin ang ating kanya-kanyang mga role sa pagbabagong dapat mangyari dito sa ating bayan. Kaya sa amin, napakahalaga nitong mga partnership na ganito para mas makarating ang benepisyo sa mas maraming kababayan natin."

Forging partnerships with local organizations is an ideal way of getting the business sector more involved in the reduction of poverty in the country, Lopa said.

Gacayan, for his part, thanked PBSP and AKFI for helping the government in poverty reduction programs. "These people (from the organizations) have better dispositions in life, and yet they are here to help the farmers of Bohol," he said. (PR)