EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Year 2007 marks the foundation’s 30th year of pursuing its commitment of “helping communities help themselves” though its continuing programs and services to our partner communities within the SOCSARGEN Area. As we pursue the promotion of Social Entrepreneurship among our community-based partners, the foundation formalized its partnership with the National Pharmaceutical Foundation and had launched Mahintana as the Health Plus-Provincial Pharmaceutical Franchisee in the SOCSARGEN Area. Such partnership is expected to improve our communities’ access to safe, effective and affordable medicines. Further, our continued advocacy and promotion of community-based social enterprises, such as the “civet coffee” and processing of non-timber based products like “kaong” and native guava has facilitated initial marketing linkages with the various partners within the country. These we have realized through years of dynamism, persistence and hard work..
For this year, the foundation, through its various programs and services was able to reach out to at least 2,518 households and 150 POs/institutions in 14 municipalities throughout the SOCSARGEN Area. It has contributed to environmental rehabilitation by reforesting 452 hectares through the reforestation and agro-forestry components of the ECITE and from ComDev Reciprocating Action.
Also, we are able to mobilize support from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) in support of the MMPL-Bantay Gubat and from AusAID-PACAP for the final year of the ECITE and the Sustaining AFA Initiatives. On the other hand, we are actively replicating our CSDO-SC experience in Sarangani, as we continue to pursue with our Dolefil-supported Integrated Area Development Project in Maasim, which we implement in close coordination with the Sarangani Province Empowerment and Community Transformation Forum (SPECTRUM).
The active involvement of our partner LGUs, POs and other stakeholders has made a significant contribution to these accomplishments. Further, the strong support of Mahintana Board, coupled with the staff’s dynamism in project implementation contributed much in achieving the targets and objectives of the different programs. For these, we express our gratitude as we continue “helping communities help themselves”.
MARTINIANO L. MAGDOLOT
Executive Director
