Andres Soriano Foundation, Inc.

4.Bio-Gas Project

ASF launched its pilot bio-gas project in Manamoc to demonstrate how to manage waste products from hogs. To date, at least eight residents have already replicated the technology after seeing its viability.

Economic Enhancement: Integrated Small Livelihood Assistance (ISLA) Project

1. Technical Training facilitated/conducted

During the period, three (3) seminars were held: Effective Hog Raising and Management, Poultry Raising and Bio-gas Technology

2. Market Link

The Manamoc Livelihood Association continues to supply the resort’s staff cafeteria of various local products. This initiative helped some 233 families in Manamoc mostly from the sector of hog raisers (with 25,700 kilos of pork meat delivered or 433 heads of hog) followed by vegetable farmers (with 2,490 kilos of assorted vegetables). Rock Salt, dried fish, beef and goat meat also account for products locally sourced and sold to the resort.

3. Poultry-Raising Pilot Project

Started the project this year with the initial purchased of 10 ready-to-lay hens and 2 roosters along with 200 heads of day-old chicks. High mortality rate of day-old chicks was noted at the on-set of rainy season.
Recently, we purchased additional 10 ready-to-lay hens with 2 roosters
From the initial hens, we have already delivered one (1) tray of eggs (30 pcs.) to the resort (we have collected at least 60 pcs of eggs but only delivered 1 tray).

Assistance to Basic Services

1. EDUCATION

a. Pre-school

Operations of Pre-school Centers

Continuing operation of 11 Pre-school Centers assisted by ASF
SY 2009-2010 saw the completion of 210 children and their promotion to Grade 1. On the other hand, enrollment for the current school year is 243. All were provided with school supplies, back pack bags, 1 T-shirt each including various supplies needed by each center and; subsidy of stipend of pre-school educators

Infrastructure

Completed the construction of Manamoc Pre-school Building in partnership with the Adopt-a-School Program of DepEd. Union Galva-Steel and Mariposa Foundation donated the roofing materials while the electrical wires were donated by PDP Energy Products.
Still, under the Adopt a School Program the Foundation completed the Phase 1 and Phase 2 repair and renovation of Andres Soriano memorial Elementary School in Roxas, Palawan. The undertaking involved the renovation of 22 classroom of the main building. Mr. Eduardo Soriano and daughter Sandra came for the blessing and official turn-over.
Completed the improvement of Mandit Pre-school Center with the installation of plastic water tank with concrete support including its pipe lines, electrical connection, teacher’s table, blackboard and wooden cabinets. In Edupoy, we completed the replacement of roofing structure while the construction of toilets is 80% complete.
Minor repairs of other centers were done prior to opening of classes last June.

Summer Workshop for Educators

ASF conducted a summer training/workshop on “Training Teachers How to Teach Children Read Effectively”. Ten (10) pre-school educators and 8 primary school teachers from Manamoc Elementary School attended the workshop

b. Scholarship

ASF Scholar from Cebu who graduated last year passed the Nursing Licensure Exam last August 2010. Sent a “Thank You” letter recognizing the assistance of the Foundation on her studies.
New scholar from Manamoc funded by La Pucelle Holdings, Inc (Mr. Endika Aboitiz) is currently enrolled at PWU taking-up Accountancy.
Started the first Andres Soriano Excellence Award given to deserving graduating elementary student of ASMES. The award went with a plaque and P10,000 cash.

c. Dictionary Project

ASF participated and adopted the Philippine Dictionary Project conceptualized by a US-based Filipina educator and adopted in Metro Manila by La Salle System. Four (4) Elementary Schools: 3 in Quiniluban and 1 in mainland Agutaya were the identified recipients of the project.
La Galice Holdings, Inc. (Mr. Enrique Razon, Jr.) donated the funds to acquire 200 pieces of Dictionary Books up for distribution and primary use of Grade 3 pupils.

2. COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH PROGRAM

a. Health Prevention Activities

Advocacy

Continuing classes on Maternal and Child Care are held in Quiniluban areas in partnership with Barangay Health Midwives.
Upgrading sessions for Barangay Health Workers on basic home remedies for common illnesses. Also conducted were series of IEC activities for children specific on hand washing and dengue using an AVP produced by DOH

Reproductive Health

For the period, the program has a total of 314 FP practitioners up by 10% from last year’s. .
36 women decided to use IUD; no complications had been reported for 40 women who underwent BTL and in fact, have reported increased economic productivity (ably helped augment family’s income)

Improved Health and Sanitation

10 communal toilets were constructed in Mandit Island
Amanpulo donated empty drums while ASF donated cement and used GI Sheets. DOH Region-4 donated 10 flush-type toilet bowls while the community provided lumber, sand and labor.

Improved Health Facilities

Construction/repair of old/dilapidated Health Centers in 3 Quiniluban Barangays was undertaken.
Completed the construction of TB Satellite Laboratory in Algeciras inclusive of lab supplies and equipments while the Anti-TB Drugs were provided by DOH Region 4.

b. Remedial/Therapeutic

Medical Mission

ASF brought in 12 volunteer-doctors with varying sub-specialties during the Annual Medical Mission in Quiniluban Group
1,838 individuals (infant through adults) were attended by the volunteers. Patients were provided with free medicines/vitamins. In all, 2,446 medical services had been rendered in three days.

Nutri- Aid /Feeding Project

Last year, 845 children were weighed under “Operation Timbang”, 248 were found to be Below Normal Low (underweight) and 19 were Below Normal Very Low (severely under weight) – resulting in a malnutrition prevalence rate of 31.60%. By standards set by DOH, Agutaya was the worst performing municipality in Palawan in terms of malnutrition. In Manamoc, 15 children were identified to be underweight
Due to lack of funds, the LGU tapped ASF to become its partner
Of the 282 children covered by the project across Agutaya, 165 gained normal weight, 90 remained in underweight bordering to normal weight and 11 severely underweight after the three-month once-a-day serving.

TB-DOTS Project

Screening and Treatment

25 individuals (from 45 to 60 years old) underwent symptomatic screening
22 of these were found to be smear positive and 19 patients had completed the prescribed 6-month drug therapy and were declare cured by the Health Office.
2 patients stopped medication due to skin allergy and 1 has transferred residence.
Another round of case finding started in July 2010.

Emergency Medical Cases

In the absence of the Municipal Health Doctor, a number of critically-ill patients (mostly children) were accommodated and attended by Dr. Rom Gumabon – Resort Physician

“Every development effort we do in the islands is anchored on the idea of preserving the natural environment without denying the human population opportunities for socio-economic growth. Our work is geared towards maintaining the balance between the responsible use of natural resources and the need to make a living. The key to any environmental project is that one must give the people an alternate source of income for them to respect their environment. In Palawan, where we serve fishing communities, we advocate ecological protection such as mangrove reforestation, promote responsible fishing methods, and teach fishermen new skills such as rice or vegetable farming. If we promote methods that will lessen the traditional dependence on marine resources, we must be able to provide alternate sources of livelihood that will, at the very least, lessen the negative impact of this shift in livelihood. Of course, the ultimate goal is that the family’s income is actually made better by this change. Striking this balance is a challenge: our work to protect the environment in the small islands cannot be done at the expense of the people who make their living out of the sea; and our desire to uplift the quality of life through better income also cannot be done at the expense of the environment…

“Even our decision to focus on pre-school education is related, to a certain extent, to the environment. We often say of our work in Palawan that we would like to leave behind a healthy environment for our children. It is therefore important that the children who will eventually inherit our islands be given a head start in life so that they can continue caring for their inheritance.”

― Chairman Andres Soriano III