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From Vision to Victory: PSFI Celebrates Community Progress at the 2025 Cagayan de Oro Culmination Day

November 18, 2025

Cagayan de Oro City, November 6, 2025 — Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), together with Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC), celebrated the achievements of scholars, enterprises, and community partners in Northern Mindanao through the 2025 Culmination Day held at Dynasty Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

The event gathered local government representatives, educators, and partner organizations to honor milestones under PSFI’s flagship programs — the Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL), Shell LiveWIRE, Biyahero, and Response to Communities Under Emergencies (RESCUE) — as well as other initiatives supporting education, safety, and sustainable livelihoods.

Empowering Scholars Through Technical-Vocational Education

A key highlight of the celebration was the achievement of 24 SKIL scholars who completed their Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) NC II training through PSFI’s Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) Program. Delivered in partnership with the City College of Cagayan de Oro, the City Government, and the PESO Office, the program equips youth with industry-ready skills and pathways to employment.

Within just four months of graduation, 15 scholars have already secured jobs or continued their studies, demonstrating how access to quality technical-vocational education can rapidly translate into real opportunities for Filipino families.

SKIL scholars also received startup toolkits to help them practice and monetize their newly acquired skills, opening pathways for extra income and small-scale side ventures.

Strengthening Local Enterprises Through Innovation

Through the Shell LiveWIRE Program, PSFI supported five community enterprises in Macabalan and neighboring areas: Amiga’s Housemate, DA’YARN, MJ’s Foodies Homemade Bread and Pastry, Macabalan Golden Rays OFW Association, and the Macabalan Fisherfolk Association and Cooperative.

These enterprises received capacity-building sessions, mentorship, and livelihood grants, enabling them to expand their operations and anchor local economic growth. Their stories stood out as examples of how grassroots innovation can strengthen community resilience and prosperity.

Building Safer, More Resilient Communities

PSFI also reinforced community safety through its Biyahero and RESCUE Programs. More than 120 participants were trained in road safety, fire safety, and basic first aid. In partnership with barangays and local schools, PSFI will be installing 14 road signs in key areas of Macabalan to create safer routes for students, pedestrians, and commuters.

Volunteers and fisherfolk also received safety equipment, first aid kits, and solar lights to support emergency preparedness and promote safer, more sustainable livelihoods.

A Shared Commitment to Community Development

The Culmination Day recognized the collective contributions of schools, local government offices, national agencies, and civic organizations that have helped advance PSFI’s programs. These partnerships continue to fuel projects such as Brigada Eskwela, coastal cleanups, tree planting, and other environmental conservation initiatives.

Moving Forward Together

The 2025 Cagayan de Oro Culmination Day reaffirmed a simple truth. Progress becomes more meaningful when it is shared. From nurturing scholars to strengthening enterprises, and from promoting safety to caring for the environment, PSFI and its partners remain united in their commitment to empowering communities and transforming lives across Northern Mindanao.

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), together with Shell Pilipinas Corporation, strengthened fisherfolk safety and coastal resilience in Cagayan de Oro through the turnover of protective and rescue equipment under the Shell LiveWIRE Philippines program. The initiative supports local fisherfolk organizations by enhancing emergency preparedness, improving safety during fishing operations, and helping sustain coastal livelihoods through community-centered development.

A Mother’s Determination: Building Hope Through Roots to Shoots

hrough the Roots to Shoots Program in Sacobia, Editha Salazar transformed a small livelihood assistance package into a growing sari-sari store that now helps support her family, her children’s education, and her child’s ongoing therapy, proving how opportunity and determination can create lasting change.

Shell LiveWIRE Empowers Cagayan de Oro Fisherfolk Through Sustainable Payao Deployment in Macajalar Bay

Shell LiveWIRE, through Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Shell Pilipinas Corporation
, strengthens sustainable livelihoods in Cagayan de Oro City through the successful deployment of three payaos in Macajalar Bay, empowering local fisherfolk with safer and more sustainable fishing opportunities through community collaboration, capacity building, and responsible fisheries management.

Roots to Shoots: Pasacao 2.0 Helps Mothers Build Sustainable Livelihoods

Through the Roots to Shoots (RTS) Pasacao 2.0 Program and with the support of Metrobank Foundation, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) officially opened the SONATA stitching and sewing production facility in Pasacao, Camarines Sur. The initiative aims to empower mothers and families by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities, technical skills training, and long-term enterprise development support for the community.

Roots to Shoots Empowers 37 Mothers and Caregivers Through Home Gardening Training in Sacobia

The Roots to Shoots (RTS) program trained 37 mothers, caregivers, and pregnant women in Sacobia in practical home gardening to support nutrition and food security. Through hands-on sessions and starter kits, participants learned how to grow their own vegetables using organic and climate-responsive techniques. The initiative empowers families to improve their diets while building resilience at the household level.

Chasing Zero: How PSFI and Partners are Turning the Tide Against Malaria

As the Philippines moves closer to eliminating malaria, a focused push in Palawan is driving the country’s final mile toward zero cases. Through the Global Fund Movement Against Malaria program, implemented by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) with national and local partners, significant gains have been achieved, including a 78% drop in indigenous cases in 2025 and zero reported deaths.

With 74 out of 82 provinces now malaria free, efforts are concentrated on reaching remote and underserved communities through targeted testing, treatment, and prevention strategies. Backed by strong partnerships and community driven approaches, the country is on track to achieve zero malaria in Palawan by 2026 and nationwide elimination by 2030.