13/07/2026
๐๐๐-๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ผ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐น๐ผ๐ถ๐น๐ผ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ท๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐
๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐บ ๐๐๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด
ILOILO CITY โ The LBF-Sicao Project Team visited the Main Office of Lifebank Foundation Inc. (LBF) in Iloilo on July 7โ8, 2026, to personally present the accomplishments, current implementation status, challenges, lessons learned, and future directions of the โ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐โ being implemented in Sicao Village within the ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐จ-๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง in S๐ฆ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ผ, ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ด, ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ผ ๐๐ถ๐๐.
The visit provided an important opportunity for the project team to engage directly with the management and staff of Lifebank Foundation, strengthen institutional coordination, share significant project updates, gather valuable feedback and recommendations, and ensure that the project's strategies and future directions remain aligned with the Foundation's goals and development priorities.
Beyond the formal project presentation and learning sessions, the activity also served as an important organizational learning and team-building opportunity. It strengthened collaboration and camaraderie among team members while deepening their understanding and appreciation of Lifebank Foundation's programs, operations, organizational culture, and development initiatives.
๐๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ค ๐
๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
On the first day of the official visit, the team proceeded to the Lifebank Foundation Central Office along Maria Clara Street in Iloilo City. Ms. Berna Halongong, Acting Department Head of the Social and Sustainable Development Department (SSDD), welcomed the team and introduced them to the Foundation's different divisions and offices.
The team received an orientation on the functions and responsibilities of the various offices within the organization and gained a broader understanding of Lifebank Foundation's programs, development initiatives, and organizational best practices. The office tour and orientation enabled the team to better appreciate how the different units of the Foundation collaborate and complement one another in advancing shared social and sustainable development goals.
Following the Central Office visit, the team proceeded to the Lifebank office in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, for the formal presentation of the project's accomplishments, key milestones, updates, and current implementation status.
The presentation highlighted the progress of the Environmental Protection and Management cm Sustainable Livelihood Project, particularly its initiatives on forest and environmental protection, sustainable reforestation and ecosystem restoration, Indigenous community empowerment and governance, sustainable livelihood development, and community-based eco-cultural tourism within the Bagobo-Klata Ancestral Domain.
The discussion also provided a venue to openly examine the challenges encountered during project implementation, emerging opportunities, lessons learned from field experiences, and the team's proposed strategies and future directions.
Present during the program were Dr. Vincent Perlas, Chairman of the Lifebank Group of Companies; Mr. Roberto M. Mediana Jr., newly appointed President of Lifebank Foundation Inc.; Mrs. Mikka Ella Perlas-Rivera, Vice President of Lifebank Foundation Inc.; Ms. Berna Halongong, Acting Department Head of the Social and Sustainable Development Department; Mrs. Analy Esteva, Project Assigned Supervisor; and other SSDD staff.
The meaningful engagement provided the LBF-Sicao Project Team with valuable insights, guidance, and recommendations to further enhance project implementation and strengthen the sustainability and long-term impact of its interventions with the Bagobo-Klata Indigenous Cultural Community.
๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
In the afternoon, the team participated in a perimeter survey of LBF properties in Iloilo as part of the initial discussions and planning for a proposed long-term development initiative.
The activity explored the potential establishment of a farm school integrated with processing facilities and market linkages to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities and support to small farmers in Iloilo. During the field visit, the LBF-Sicao Project Team also had the opportunity to share their field experiences, technical knowledge, and perspectives on approaches that integrate community capacity building, sustainable agriculture, value-adding and product development, and access to markets.
The exchange of ideas and field observations provided relevant insights that may contribute to strengthening the Foundation's sustainable livelihood strategies and community enterprise development initiatives in the area. At the same time, the LBF-Sicao Project Team gained additional perspectives that may be adapted and applied to livelihood interventions within the Bagobo-Klata Ancestral Domain.
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
On the second day, the learning exchange focused on financial management and the sharing of administrative and financial best practices.
The LBF Financial Team discussed key financial management processes and presented the updated templates, procedures, and reporting requirements for project implementation. The session provided the LBF-Sicao Project Team with clearer guidance on financial documentation, reporting, accountability, and compliance with the Foundation's administrative and financial management systems.
The discussion also allowed team members to raise project implementation concerns, seek clarification on financial and administrative procedures, and better understand the necessary processes to ensure the efficient, transparent, and accountable management of project funds and resources.
The session reinforced the importance of sound financial management and proper documentation in ensuring project accountability, operational efficiency, and the long-term sustainability of development initiatives.
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ
Apart from the formal project presentation and learning sessions, the Iloilo visit also became a meaningful team-building experience for the LBF-Sicao Project Team. The team's land journey from Davao City to Iloilo and back to Davao City provided a unique opportunity for members to spend extended time together, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and develop greater patience, cooperation, and mutual support throughout the long travel.
The shared journey allowed the team to engage in informal conversations, exchange personal and professional experiences, reflect on their work in Sicao Village, and build stronger camaraderie outside their usual field and office environment. The challenges and experiences encountered during the long-distance travel further highlighted the importance of teamwork, flexibility, and looking after one another as a team.
During their available time, the team also had the opportunity to roam around and explore parts of Iloilo City and Guimaras Island. These shared experiences allowed team members to appreciate the local culture, landscapes, tourism destinations, and community environment of Western Visayas while enjoying moments of relaxation and fellowship.
The visit to Guimaras Island and the exploration of Iloilo City became informal yet valuable team-building activities. Through shared meals, travel, conversations, laughter, and new experiences, the team further strengthened trust, camaraderie, and a sense of belonging. These moments provided a much-needed opportunity to recharge and reconnect as a team after months of demanding field activities and project implementation.
More importantly, the travel experience exposed the team to different local settings and development contexts, providing additional observations and ideas that may be relevant to community-based tourism, sustainable livelihood development, and local enterprise initiatives in Sicao Village.
๐๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐จ-๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ
The two-day official visit, complemented by the team's travel and shared learning experiences, strengthened the partnership and coordination between the LBF-Sicao Project Team and the Lifebank Foundation management and staff. More importantly, it reaffirmed the team's commitment to effectively carry out project activities and deliver meaningful, sustainable, and community-centered interventions for the Bagobo-Klata Indigenous Cultural Community.
The Iloilo learning visit was more than an official project engagement. It became an opportunity to learn, share, reflect, strengthen relationships, and grow together as a team. The combination of formal organizational learning, field exposure, financial and administrative capacity building, and informal team-building experiences contributed to strengthening the team's collective commitment and motivation.
With renewed energy, stronger teamwork, deeper organizational understanding, and valuable lessons gained from the learning exchange, the LBF-Sicao Project Team looks forward to further advancing environmental protection and management, Indigenous community empowerment, sustainable livelihood development, and community-based eco-cultural tourism in Sicao Village and the broader Bagobo-Klata Ancestral Domain.
