Security Bank Corporation (SBC) has partnered with Angat Pinas, Inc. (also known as Angat Buhay) and Beacon for the Upliftment of Status of Everyone (BUSOE) Inc. to launch the Integrated Community Development Project in Malinao, Aklan. The initiative is designed to strengthen food security, improve livelihoods and promote sustainability for local farmers and solo parents in the area.
BUSOE, which means “seed” in Aklanon, is a non-government organization dedicated to planting seeds of volunteerism, hope and opportunity. Based in New Washington and Kinalangay Viejo, Malinao, the group manages community food gardens, cacao plantations and wilderness rescue programs. Malinao, a town of 23 barangays known for its rich cultural heritage and eco-tourism potential, is working to build a more inclusive and sustainable economy for its residents.
Under Security Bank’s one-year grant, BUSOE will implement programs that include cacao plantation development, poultry raising and wilderness rescue training in Brgy. Kinalangay Viejo. Forty solo parents and farmers will receive farming and rescue equipment including chainsaws, grass cutters, bolos, hoes and spades to prepare land for planting and respond to emergencies. Beneficiaries will also receive 500 cacao seedlings to establish an eco-tourism plantation and poultry kits to generate a steady source of income while waiting for the cacao to mature.
The program will be further strengthened by capacity-building sessions led by the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute, covering modern farming techniques, livestock care and rescue operations. Additional seminars on psychosocial support, social education and values formation will help beneficiaries develop the skills and mindset to manage their livelihoods effectively.
By integrating agriculture, income generation and disaster preparedness, the initiative aims to create long-term economic opportunities while improving community safety. This project builds on SBC’s earlier collaboration with Angat Buhay through the Go Organic Kabukiran – Angat Nueva Ecija project, which supported Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in producing organic fertilizer. Together, these efforts reflect the Bank’s mission to enrich lives, empower businesses and build sustainable communities.
Security Bank and its partners envision the Integrated Community Development Project as a catalyst for wider change, inspiring nearby communities to adopt similar initiatives and creating a ripple effect of inclusive growth and empowerment across the region.
Learn more about Security Bank’s sustainability initiatives at www.securitybank.com/sustainability
