Faith-based groups, business firms partner with CCT to distribute food packs nationwide
The country’s faith-based organizations and business enterprises have stepped up their partnership with the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) Paglingap Program – donating cash, health supplies like gallons of alcohol plus face masks, and relief goods for distribution to poor communities nationwide. CCT stands for Center for Community Transformation Inc. (CCT).
Under this partnership, CCT has distributed over 10,000 survival food packs, medicines, and health kits to several communities where CCT operates its various social amelioration programs and where CCT’s partner organizations run their ministries.
Victory Christian Fellowship (VCF) delivered a truckload of 3,000 relief packs consisting of food and medicines to CCT – which, in turn, were distributed by CCT workers and volunteers to VCF’s target ministries nationwide.
Glory Evangelical Church (GEC) initially donate a million pesos, so CCT can sustain its food distribution program covering Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
Also, CCT has distributed over 7,000 survival food packs consisting of five kilos of rice, canned goods and noodles. Hundreds of kilos of rice were sourced from CCT’s rice plantation at an integrated farming center in Lupang Pangako. It is a 32-hectare integrated social development center located in Kalikid, Nueva Ecija, multi-purpose social development center consisting of integrated farming, housing for 50 families of former street dwellers, livestock breeding, and training for a wide range of employable skills.
“CCT has made itself available to integrate otherwise unorganized efforts to bring much needed relief and assistance to marginalized members and beneficiaries of these organizations,” said Ruth S. Callanta, CCT president.
Businessmen who have partnered or are affiliated with CCT have contributed cash in undisclosed amounts yet running into millions of pesos, several boxes of face masks, gallons of alcohol, and food packs. Among the donors are a leading condominium builder, the Philippines’ number one billboard company, the country’s largest generic pharmaceutical chain, a garment manufacturing complex, multinational bank, a logistics firm, a host of companies in various manufacturing and trading operations.
CCT has been active in social welfare ministries since 29 years ago, inspired by the vision of Ms. Callanta, who was formerly executive director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), erstwhile Professor at the Social Development Studies Program of the Asian Institute of Management, and a published author on the state of poverty in the Philippines.
CCT is governed by a Board of Trustees made up of top executives of a leading builder of condominiums nationwide, the country’s number one billboard firm, the largest generics pharmaceutical chain, a multinational bank, global exporter of fragrances, a large garment manufacturer/exporter, a leading optical chain of shops, senior faculty members of the Asian Institute of Management University of the Philippines, and a renowned Christian author and broadcaster.
“VCF and GEC have taken note of our wide distribution network made up of ministry centers, agricultural sites, and credit cooperative offices nationwide. This network has been tested during the quarantine period, serving as supply centers,” Callanta said.
Food scarcity was the result of the enhanced quarantine and lockdown policy implemented by the government to arrest the spread of the corona virus. Formal and informal workers have lost their jobs permanently or temporarily, could not earn money, and therefore have no cash to buy basic life necessities.
Faith-oriented organizations have earlier been working with CCT as the social transformation partner of the Christian evangelical community. The pandemic crisis has maximized the benefits from this alliance.
CCT runs integrated programs to develop and support micro enterprises through its hundreds of credit cooperatives nationwide with a P2 billion in loan portfolio, rescue and rehabilitate street children in training centers located in Puypoy and Magdalena towns in Laguna, and in Malungon, Sarangani province, in Mindanao.
CCT provides leadership training for pastors, workers and volunteers in such training centers as the 7.5- hectare Tagaytay Retreat and Training Center in Cavite and the Manapla Training Center in Negros Occidental.
CCT also conducts skills development and job placements for former street dwellers and erstwhile detainees, restores social an economic confidence among tribes anywhere in the Philippines, and helps raise productivity among fisherfolk and farmers in selected areas in the country.
“Praise God for donors, ministry partners, co-workers, pastors, community servant leaders, and volunteers who have relentlessly worked together providing urgent assistance,” Ms. Callanta said. “Food must urgently be on the tables of households already complaining of hunger,” she added.
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
