FRUITFUL PARTNERSHIP – Assumption Alumnae Association (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 Php1.3 million project called ‘Food for the Table’ Bio-Intensive Gardening Project for Yolanda survivors in Mercedes, Eastern Samar. In photo are: (from left) Dida Salita, AAA Trustee; Gina Africa-Aboitiz, AAA Member; Regina Gabaldon-Hechanova, AAA Board Member and Chairperson of Assumption Cares Program; Ma. Luisa Ledesma, AAA President; Amb. Bienvenido Tan Jr. and his wife Mrs. Emma Tan, project sponsor; Roberto A. Umali, PBSP Trustee and Chief Operating Officer, Magsaysay Transport and Logistics; and Grace Pedragosa, Director for PBSP’s Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program.

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 Php1.3 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, and his wife Emma Tan, project sponsors; Roberto A. Umali, PBSP Trustee and Chief Operating Officer of Magsaysay Transport and Logistics; Grace Pedragosa, Director for PBSP’s Livelihood and Enterprise Development Program (LED); Mercedita Rosetes, Portfolio Manager of PBSP LED; and Amy Chua, Portfolio Manager for Backbone Support of PBSP LED.