MPIF Launches Puhunang Pangkabuhayan Project

Donates Tools for Alternative Livelihood Programs in Coastal Communities

Makati, Philippines, 24th June 2021 – Metro Pacific Investments Foundation (MPIF) launched the first leg of its Puhunang Pangkabuhayan Project in coastal community partner sites in Batangas and Puerto Galera, donating bicycles, pocket Wi-Fis, and sewing machines for the establishment of alternative livelihood programs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In line with First Pacific Co. Ltd.’s 40th Anniversary and the MVP Group’s Bike for Livelihood program, MPIF provided these tools to displaced or out-of-work individuals to augment their source of income. With most of the group’s focus pivoted towards its concession areas in Metro Manila, MPIF catered to its community partners outside of the immediate business through its environmental flagship program, Shore It Up!.

After over a year of facing the challenges posed by the resulting lockdowns, big businesses and corporations slowly recover from the strain on their financial stability and are urgently adapting methods to recuperate from the major setback. However, other companies including smaller, independent businesses, were unable to endure the distress and shut down permanently, leaving most of their employees without sources of income. 

Early on, MPIF, along with the MVP Group of Companies, immediately mobilized various initiatives to temporarily alleviate the impact of the pandemic to the most vulnerable sectors. Despite the immediacy of the group’s response, there was still a pressing need to develop a more sustainable solution that harnesses long-term benefits for the beneficiaries. 

Beginning with its Bayan Tanim! program that helps disadvantaged communities by providing them with planting kits to cultivate food sustainably, MPIF began to mobilize movements towards strengthening alternative livelihood programs for Filipinos who were left unemployed. 

Most of MPIF’s coastal community partners depend on tourism as a source of income. The heightened restrictions and the strictly imposed lockdowns jeopardized this sector, forcing employees to search for other means to provide for their families. With its close ties to communities such as Batangas and Puerto Galera, MPIF sought to empower these individuals and give them a source of stability against the looming uncertainty.

“Our Puhunang Pangkabuhayan Project intends to enable and support alternative livelihood programs for those whose jobs were compromised by the pandemic, such as fishermen, construction workers, and resort staff,” says MPIF President Melody del Rosario. “We aim to give them the necessary means to recuperate and get back on their feet. Batangas and Puerto Galera are just the beginning, as we will continue this project across all our coastal community partners in the country.”

“If we can help at least one individual, then we have done our jobs,” says Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan. “I do hope they would use it for their families, so they can uplift their way of living. At the end of day, that’s what we’re all here for. Social orientation is embedded in our Group’s DNA.”

Last June 24, the Foundation distributed ten bicycles, ten Smart Pocket Wi-Fis, and five sewing machines to chosen individuals, from ten barangays in Batangas. Beneficiaries ranged from fishermen and fish vendors to construction workers and resort staff.

Brgy. Captain Pedro Brucal of Brgy. Mainit, Mabini, Batangas shared the difficulties they faced during the pandemic. “Sa aming barangay, napakalaking problema lalo pa’t nasalanta po ang aming lugar, nawalan po ang mga tao ng hanapbuhay. Kaya kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa MVP group. Napakalaking tulong po sa amin, lalo po yung sewing machine dahil pinagkakakitaan po talaga ng aming mga tao ang pagtatahi ng mga basahan. Ang bicycle, magagamit sa pagdedeliver ng mga nahuling isda at magagamit po sa paglalako.”

Reizel Hernandez from Brgy. Talaga East in Mabini, also chronicled her experience as she adapted her business of selling pajamas to the online selling scene. “Malaking cause po kung bakit bumaba ang sales ko ay dahil sa pandemic. Minsan madalang, minsan wala… dumadating talaga sa point na wala. Bilang online seller na kailangan talaga ng Wi-Fi, nakakataba ng puso, dahil malaking tulong na hindi na ako gagastos for one month sa data.”

On June 25, MPIF distributed ten bicycles and thirteen Smart pocket Wi-Fi units to the Municipality of Puerto Galera in a turnover ceremony with Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO) Joan Yap. As a joint agreement of the barangays, the pocket wi-fi units will be stationed in their barangay halls to be shared by their local students taking online classes or completing modules. Their Sangguniang Kabataan members will take charge of monitoring the devices and the LGU will also sustain the usage of these units by purchasing the load cards for monthly use.

“Napakalaking tulong po sa amin nitong pocket wi-fi, lalo na po ngayong new normal dahil lahat po ng ating mga estudyante ay puro so online class, pati pag. Hindi lang po ang barangay namin ang nabiyayaan, kung hindi lahat ng kabataan sa Puerto Galera,” said Brgy. San Isidro SK Chairman Norman Serrano. 

In the succeeding legs of the Puhunang Pangkabuhayan program, MPIF will distribute the same livelihood tools to its partner communities in Alaminos, Pangasinan; Del Carmen, Siargao; Medina, Misamis Oriental, and Marinduque. 

The program will also sustain an independent coffee business in Davao City, supporting Kapeweñoz Coffee by providing viral coffee barista John Rey “Biboy” Plaza with his very own mobile coffee cart.

Beneficiaries from Brgy. San Jose in Mabini, Batangas receive a bicycle and a Smart Pocket Wi-Fi unit to provide them with tools to develop and sustain their own alternative livelihoods.

Puhunang Pangkabuhayan beneficiaries in Mabini, Batangas – most of whom were left unemployed or seeking alternative sources of income – are given bicycles, pocket Wi-Fi units, or sewing machines to help them recuperate from the impact of the pandemic.

The Sangguniang Kabataan Representatives from Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro receive Smart Pocket Wi-Fi units with free load cards from MPIF and First Pacific Co. Ltd. on behalf of their barangays. Each unit will be stationed in their respective barangay halls to be used by all local students taking online classes or modules.