Empowering Farmers with Financial Education
CLFI Partners with PJLI and PUP for Community Development Initiatives
Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) recently made significant progress in empowering 50 community leaders and Sitio Labilab Farmers’ Cooperative members in Itogon, Benguet. This was accomplished under its banner program, which promotes financial literacy and inclusion and incorporates a community development approach.
With the goal of promoting progress and prosperity in the community, CLFI recently partnered with the PJLI Group’s Legal Services Group and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) to deliver impactful seminars on financial and basic legal education.
Spearheaded under LSG’s regular CSR program, “Street Law for Every Juan,” the first module, presented by lawyers Atty. Jaydee Justine Legaspi-Buduan, Atty. Lady Mericar Bravo and Atty. Mark Amadeus Basco focused on empowering the farmers and community members with vital legal knowledge.
They covered small claims, barangay cases, barangay micro-business enterprises, promissory notes, and real estate mortgages. This segment provides participants with a better understanding of their legal rights and the intricacies of the legal system.
On the other hand, selected faculty members from the PUP College of Social Sciences and Development taught the second module, “Fundamentals of Cooperatives and Organizational Assessment.” This session equips participants with the necessary knowledge and skills for cooperative management and organizational assessment, fostering a more robust and informed community capable of efficiently managing their cooperative.
These training sessions, culminating in a successful event on June 27, 2024, are just some of the many lined up for this three-year community development program in Sitio Labilab, Barangay Loacan, Itogon, Benguet.
CLFI’s goal is to improve the lives of individuals and families in its adopted communities. This will be done by promoting financial literacy to 100% of the community members (7 years old and above) and increasing basic financial literacy skills in four vulnerable community sectors: farmers, women, the youth, and the elderly.
If the pilot program in Labilad proves successful, CLFI plans to expand it to other vulnerable communities in Itogon, Benguet, and selected urban-poor communities in Metro Manila.
PJLI also donated laptops to CLFI, specifically designated for Sitio Labilab. These will be used for their cooperative’s operations, allowing them to apply all their learnings from the mentorship.
This initiative exemplifies a strong commitment to community empowerment. Through collaborative efforts, CLFI, PJLI, and PUP have provided individuals in underserved communities with valuable resources and knowledge, enhancing their lives and creating opportunities for a better future.
#LahatKasama #CommunityDevelopment #FinancialInclusion
