Social Responsibility | Printer-friendly Version

Environment | Communities | Our People

Del Monte Foundation, Inc, a non-stock, non-profit organisation, was established in 1994 to uphold our corporate tradition of community service started in 1967. It spearheads education and development programmes geared towards the socio-economic and cultural growth of our host communities.

Under Under its flagship programme, the Foundation has trained more than 3,000 women, heads of families and out-of-school youths as well as employee families living in Company housing camps during the last five years.

Training priority is given to agro-industrial fields of competency such as plant propagation, driving and engine trouble-shooting, carpentry, food processing, weaving, electrical and automotive technologies. Accredited trainers help students learn new skills, organise themselves into cooperatives, and embark on livelihood projects. Many graduates have become small business entrepreneurs, augmenting family income and serving the community by sharing technology expertise not readily available in the countryside.

The Foundation exerts parallel efforts in enhancing family life under a Home Care Education programme that teaches preventive health care and emergency management to rural household members. A significant breakthrough was achieved in 2003 when past training beneficiaries returned to serve as trainers in newly-opened community training centres.

The Foundation also offers long-term scholarship grants to poor but deserving children. Some 80 scholars have been financed by the Foundation during the last six years. Another 350 alumni scholars who have completed college and graduate studies, now serve in key positions in both government and private sectors.

For its development efforts in rural communities, the Foundation was honoured in 2003 by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority of the Philippines. The Foundation was cited for excellence in manpower development and initiatives for enhanced technical competence among rural workers.