In recent years, increased enrollment and cost of materials has left many school children, some estimate between 20 and 50 percent, without desks in the classroom.
To alleviate this problem, Dole Packaged Foods (Dolefil) in the Philippines became an active participant in the "Chairs-for-Trees" program, a private sector and community partnership to increase the numbers of school desk and chair combinations in the Socsargen region of the Philippines.
Through its Chairs-for-Trees (CFT) Program, Dole Packaged Foods (Dolefil) in the Philippines continues to provide active and responsive assistance to Southern Mindanao communities.
The CFT program is grounded on the continued partnership between the Company, two cooperatives and the community to address vital issues regarding education, environment (through recycling and reforestation), livelihood generation, and organizational development.
Under the program, Dolefil's wooden pallets from its imported raw materials are turned over, through the Mahintana Foundation, to a local cooperative which recycles and converts them into desk-chair combinations (valued at P263.67), kiddie tables and chairs, as well as church pews, which are then delivered to pre-identified beneficiary public schools, churches, day-care centers and other institutions.
By way of reciprocating action and as further support for the environment, the beneficiaries then plant a tree for every P10.00 worth of assistance received, using seedlings also provided by the Company. Furthermore, the seedlings are sourced from another local cooperative made-up of women who are responsible for propagating the seedlings for plant nurseries and green houses throughout the community.
This project has been a boon to the public education system, particularly in Mindanao, which has been suffering from poorly equipped schools as shown by the low chair to student ratio of 1:3. Since the launch of the CFT project in 2003, Dolefil and the Mahintana Foundation have donated almost 30,000 desk-chair combinations, kiddie tables and chairs and church pews, benefiting 481 schools and various organizations in the areas of South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos (SOCSARGEN).�
The fabrication of chairs, tables and pews, as well as the propagation of seedlings for the reforestation component of the project, have provided a steady source of livelihood for the members of the two cooperatives. Both cooperatives have now evolved into viable business partners in the community.
At least 615,000 seedlings of various forest and fruit trees have been planted and grown by beneficiaries in the SOCSARGEN area under the Chairs-for-Trees Program.
The benefits brought about by the program to the environment, education system, cooperatives and community have earned the Chairs-For-Trees Program a special citation by the World Bank as one of the "Most Innovative Projects" in the country, for which a reward of woodworking equipment worth P800, 000.00 was given by the Japanese Embassy.
Dolefil is committed to continue its support for the 4-year old Chairs-for-Trees Program in order to carry on contributing to quality education, greener forests, and livelihood for cooperatives.