Aboitiz Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Aboitiz Group, jump started the livelihood of nine cooperatives whose businesses were deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, through the Livelihood Recovery Project for Partner Cooperatives and Associations Nationwide also known as REstart.
REstart is a three-year program which aims to support partner cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) nationwide to restart their operation and recover from the economic loss and failure brought about by the pandemic. Supporting cooperatives and MSMEs is vital for preserving jobs and productivity.
During its first year of implementation, partner cooperatives will receive a “restarter” kit such as farm inputs, bakery restarter package and egg-laying machine that will help their organizations to recover from their economic loss and can provide employment opportunities to the community members. Partner cooperatives will also receive training to improve their business management skills.
The program is implemented in partnership with the different Aboitiz Business Units where partner cooperatives are located and in collaboration with different government agencies, NGOs, and private entities. One of the organizations that benefited from this program is the Samahan ng May Iba’t Ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw (SAKADAB) is an organization composed of 27 physically challenged individuals from Los Amigos, Tugbok, Davao City.
“On behalf of Sakadab Samahan nagpapasalamat po kami sa Aboitiz Foundation at Davao Light sa tulong at suporta po ninyo sa aming group malaking tulong po Ito para makapag simula kaming muli maraming salamat po and God bless you more.” said SAKADAB President, Ludivico Mascarinas, Jr.
Another recipient of the program, Gina Rosil, Board of Director of the Rural Settler Multi-Purpose Cooperative (RSMPC) in Naga City Cebu said that the donation was timely because the coop was identified as one of the Redemption Center of the City’s Focus Nutrition Assistance for Malnourished Children for eight barangays in the City of Naga.
“Walang sawang pasasalamat sa Aboitiz Foundation sa tulong at nagkaroon kami ng additional income generating activity for RSMPC,” Rosil added.
The REstart Program is also aligned to the recovery plan of the government which includes financial or capital assistance, supply chain and market linkages for new business, business diversification or reinvention and skills development, and retooling.
In Albay, the donation of sewing machines was warmly welcomed by Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) and Tiwi Mayor Jaime Villanueva.
“It will be a big help for me as the Federation President to extend and provide livelihood opportunities to the marginalized women in our community. On behalf of KALIPI, thank you Aboitiz Foundation and APRI for the generosity,” said KALIPI Federation President Araceli Clutario.
At the end of the project, partner cooperatives are expected to use the restarter packages to restart their businesses and have access to financing or acquired new skills and suppliers/buyers to help recover their businesses.
“The commitment and perseverance of our assisted community groups, inspires us to continue delivering projects quickly and safely to our host communities. Our goals are to help them recover and become more resilient as we go through the challenges of this pandemic together.”
– Maribeth L. Marasigan, President and COO, Aboitiz Foundation
Other beneficiaries of the REstart program includes Lamut Multi-purpose Cooperative in La Trinidad, Benguet, Cambinocot Multipurpose Cooperative and Cobcwa Multipurpose Cooperative in Cebu which received Php 100,000 each worth of farm inputs, Apang Food Processor Association Skills in Alilem, Ilocos Sur received skills training on bread and pastry production, and Pindangan II Multipurpose Cooperative in Camiling Tarlac received two egg laying machine.
The enterprise development program of Aboitiz Foundation supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 Decent work and Economic Growth as it continues to empower cooperative members with effective organizational management and technical skills, financial and infrastructure support, and access to market to help grow and expand their businesses. Since its inception, the program has benefited over 21 cooperatives with nearly 4000 members.
