Stories of inspiration

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and BPI Foundation, Inc. (BPIF) formally inked collaboration to help address agricultural challenges in Leyte, Leyte 

BPIF Trustee Mary Catherine Elizabeth P. Santamaria and PSFI Executive Director Sebastian Quiniones, Jr. signing the Memorandum of Agreement for the AgrElevate program.

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and BPI Foundation, Inc. (BPIF) formally inked collaboration to help address agricultural challenges in Leyte, Leyte

PSFI joins BPIF in implementing its Farm-to-Table program—Agricultural Services to Elevate Farmers towards Sustainable Food Security and Livelihood (AgrElevate)—to address pressing challenges facing farmers and fisherfolks in Leyte, Leyte. The 2-year project will provide support that encompasses capacity development, sustainable livelihood, market support, and financial literacy.

 

Before formalizing the agreement, the PSFI AgrElevate team visited farmers and fisherfolk communities in four barangays in Leyte: Bgy. Ugbon, Bgy. Calaguise, Bgy. Tinocdugan, and Bgy. Kawayan. The visits revealed problems of the communities, including low farm productivity, lack of alternative livelihood, limited knowledge in management, and low selling prices, on top of ​the high transport cost of goods. In response, PSFI and BPIF agreed to proceed with the initiative. Both foundations held an Inception Meeting immediately after the MOA signing to discuss their initial plans for the project.

 

Mary Catherine Elizabeth P. Santamaria, Trustee of BPI Foundation, and Sebastian Quiniones, Jr., Executive Director of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, served as the main signatories. Also present to witness the signing are BPI Foundation Associate Director Juvylyn S. Reniva; Melanie P. Magbuhos, BPIF Program Manager for Farm-to-Table; Benrick Dulay, BPIF Program Coordinator for Farm-to-Table program; Sherwin Yap, PSFI Program Director; and Maria Pamela S. Castro, PSFI Senior Program Manager for Nutrition and Food Security.

 

Leyte, a 4th-class municipality situated in the northernmost part of Leyte Island, stands as one of the most economically disadvantaged provinces in the country. With a long history of empowering smallholder farmers and enhancing fisherfolk livelihoods, PSFI brings its expertise in sustainable agricultural practices and community enterprise development to the region.

 

Inspired by its aspiration, “Kasama Lahat sa Pag-unlad,” BPI Foundation, a staunch advocate of financial wellness in underserved communities, helps build self-reliant and sustainable families through enterprise development and livelihood, financial education, and financial inclusion.

 

Through the AgrElevate initiative, like-minded organizations BPIF and PSFI endeavor to carry out tailored agriculture and aquaculture interventions to boost the livelihood of the marginalized sector by equipping them with sustainable sources of food and income, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of the local population.

 

#PilipinasShellFoundation #FilipinoForward #KasamaLahat 

Related stories:

Building Roots, Not Just Roads: PSFI and TBDI Forge Partnership for Aeta Community in Sacobia

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Thaison Builder and Developer Inc. (TBDI) have partnered to uplift Aeta communities in Sacobia through the Roots to Shoots Light: Community Nutrition and Resilience Project. The initiative strengthens nutrition, food security, clean water and energy access, and sustainable livelihoods in Bamban, Tarlac, and Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

With TBDI’s ₱3-million support, PSFI is building not just infrastructure but lasting roots of resilience through feeding programs, solar home kits, agricultural training, and community-based food hubs.

Jomel’s Journey to Heal and Serve through the Medical Scholarship Program

A first-generation college graduate from Davao City, Jomel Marteja’s dream of becoming a doctor began with curiosity and grew into a calling to heal. Now a Medical Scholarship Program (MSP) scholar at Davao Medical School Foundation, he is determined to bring healthcare closer to his community and inspire others to pursue their own dreams with hope and perseverance.

Neighbors for Nature: PSFI and SPC Join Puerto Princesa to Restore Balance at the 40th International Coastal Cleanup

Hundreds of volunteers gathered at the Puerto Princesa Baywalk for the 40th International Coastal Cleanup, joining hands to protect the sea that sustains their community. Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), together with Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC) and local partners, helped remove litter and restore the bay’s natural balance through collective action and symbolic “MudBall” drops. The cleanup highlighted how unity, care, and shared responsibility can turn small acts into waves of change for a cleaner, more resilient Puerto Princesa.

Standing as a Good Neighbor: PSFI and Shell Pilipinas Corporation Bring Relief to Families in Pasacao

When Severe Tropical Storm Opong struck Bicol, families in Pasacao, Camarines Sur sought refuge from uncertainty. Standing true to its mission of being a good neighbor, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) joined hands with local partners to deliver essential relief packs and comfort to affected families. Guided by compassion and the spirit of bayanihan, PSFI showed that hope thrives when communities come together in kindness and solidarity.

A Decade of Service: Edong’s Journey with PSFI in Palawan

For nearly a decade, Edong served as a dedicated Program Officer with PSFI in Palawan, working hand in hand with communities through programs that uplift livelihoods and protect the environment. From supporting indigenous peoples to planting mangroves along the coasts of Puerto Princesa and El Nido, his journey reflects resilience, humility, and hope. As he steps away to focus on healing and new dreams, Edong leaves behind a living legacy etched in the people and places he helped transform.