Philippines Bukas Palad La Union

Bukas Palad Foundation, which means “with open hands” in Filipino in reference to the evangelical call to “give and receive freely,” through its various offices in the country aims to respond to widespread poverty by engaging primarily in social works and community building for needy families. The SAD project supports the educational journey of children in the community center, from elementary school to academic or vocational training.

DEFINITION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

The Philippines is now one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, confirming the positive trend of the last 20 years, briefly interrupted by the Covid pandemic. This growth has been accompanied by a reduction in the poverty rate, which is now 15.5%, and an increase in the Human Development Index, which sees the Philippines in 116th place out of 189 in the world. However, widespread inequalities and persistent structural socio-economic exclusion remain, which, combined with gender bias and a large informal sector, explain how, despite economic progress, 15.5% of the population is in poverty, i.e. 17.54 million people.

In the provinces of Northern Luzon (Region I) and the Cordillera (CAR), the same contradiction can be seen: both of which are protagonists of economic growth higher than the national average (7.1 percent and 6.9 percent, respectively), they nevertheless show a poverty incidence among the population between 9.4 percent and 10.2 percent. The poorest households have poor access to basic sanitation, education and electricity, and, often lacking stable employment, are more vulnerable to financial and price shocks, as well as environmental shocks, to cope with which they are often forced into debt.

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands located in the western Pacific Ocean. With a population of around 119 million, it is the 13th most populous country in the world. According to the latest census in 2020, more than 50% of the population is under the age of 29. The main religion is Christianity (92%), followed by Islam (5%), concentrated on the island of Mindanao. The population of the Philippines is ethnically diverse, and it is estimated that there are 14-17 million indigenous peoples throughout the Philippines, belonging to 110 ethno-linguistic groups. The Philippines is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, which makes it vulnerable to earthquakes, cyclones and volcanic hazards: it is ranked 9th in the world as the country most affected by extreme weather events (WRI 2020). Region I occupies the northwestern part of the island of Luzon, the largest in the Philippines, and is composed of the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan, while the regional center is San Fernando City, La Union. The region’s economy is anchored on the agricultural sector. The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), also located in northern Luzon, consists of six provinces, and its center is Baguio City. While the economy of Region I is centered on the agricultural sector, that of CAR is diversified and benefits from significant mineral resources.

COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT

The project takes place within four buildings of the Bukas Palad La Union Social Center, located in Pagdalagan Norte, San Fernando City, La Union; they are equipped with offices, classrooms, a multipurpose room, living and training room, and housing units for staff and guests.

The staff consists of 7 paid people and 7 people who work for free.

ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES IMPLEMENTED

• Financial assistance to students for food and transportation to school
• – Distribution of uniforms, shoes, clothes, school supplies for students
• Recovery courses
• Lectures, seminars and awareness-raising activities on physical well-being, skills development, environment and current issues for students and their parents
• Distribution of food parcels to families for Christmas
• – Celebration of specific events
• Community service for cleaning public spaces

BENEFICIARIES

The direct beneficiaries are 99 minors between the ages of 5 and 22, and their parents, for a total of approximately 210 people. The beneficiaries are selected through a procedure that includes a questionnaire and a family visit, with the aim of collecting information on the living and socioeconomic conditions of the children and their families. The indirect beneficiaries are the 46 students enrolled in the foundation’s educational center and the 4 communities where the coastal reclamation and cleaning operations take place.

ACTIONS

• Support at a Distance

This is an ongoing commitment to support a school-training program aimed entirely at the individual minor and his or her family, both of which are part of the AFN project

• Support for the project

This is an ongoing commitment to support a school-training program aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.

• Donations

These are free payments and amounts, to support a school-training program aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Long-distance support of a child. Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details https://afnonlus.org/contatti/#world

Causal “New Support at a Distance Philippines La Union” and in subsequent payments “renewal Support at a Distance Philippines La Union”

• Support for the project. Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details.

Causal “New Support to the Project Philippines La Union and in subsequent payments “renewal Support at a Distance Philippines La Union”

• Donations – Causale “Donation to the project Philippines La Union”