Pilipino Banana Grhttp://www.freshplaza.com/admin/images/post_button_image.gifowers and Exporters Association:
Philippines: Banana association in Medical OutReach Expansion Program
The beneficiaries crowded the AOF covered court in Panabo City where consultations, tooth extraction, eye examination, distribution of reading glasses, medicines and supplements were done by company retainers, government doctors from the Panabo city health center, the Eastern Mindanao Command and 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army as well as private volunteers.
Other major partners include the TUCP Party List, 911 Movement Save Our Sagingan (SOS) and the Kiwanis Club of Panabo.
MORE is one of the innovations initiated by the Banana Export Industry Foundation, Inc. (BEIF), the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of PBGEA, and is aimed at upgrading the delivery of free health services in banana communities. It is a major component of the Sagip Kalusugan program.
The CSR projects implemented by BEIF through the community development officers of its members are all intended to institute support mechanisms in the community to achieve inclusive growth in banana production and trading. Aside from health development interventions through Sagip Kalusugan, the other components focus on environmental protection (Sagip Kalikasan), educational assistance (Sagip Karunungan), generation of livelihood opportunities (Sagip Pangkabuhayan), disaster mitigation and relief assistance (Sagip Pamayanan), and infrastructure support.
Over the years, the PBGEA has championed for the concerns of the industry while the BEIF delivered the gains through socio-economic interventions in areas where member-companies are operating spread out in 15 provinces in Southern Philippines.
Last Thursday’s medical mission culminated the celebration of the 36th founding anniversary of the PBGEA as an umbrella organization of banana-exporting companies in the Philippines.