The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), through its Partnerships Unit, and the United Laboratories, Inc. (Unilab), the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, conducted a half-day Seminar on Health and Financial Literacy for Smallholder Farmers held on 16 October 2023 at the SEARCA Drilon Hall.
The seminar aims to educate and inspire farmers to make informed decisions in their financial endeavors, marketing strategies, and daily dietary habits.
The seminar, attended by 17 farmers from Timugan, Los Baños, Laguna, aimed to educate and inspire farmers to make informed decisions in their financial endeavors, marketing strategies, and daily dietary habits.
In his welcome remarks, Assoc. Prof. Joselito Florendo, SEARCA deputy director for administration, gave an overview of the seminar topics. He highlighted the importance of physical and financial health and hoped the seminar equipped the farmers with knowledge and resources to enhance their productivity and livelihood. On the other hand, Mr. Jeff Evangelista, Unilab's presiding officer of the 41st Employees Council, briefed the farmers about the company's corporate advocacy program, Alagang Unilab, in his opening message.
The seminar featured three talks on topics identified by the farmers. First, Ms. Jenny Lyn De Jesus, a Sunlife financial advisor, delivered a presentation on "Achieving Financial Freedom," providing farmers with strategies and tips for managing their finances effectively. Ms. Zara Mae Estareja, SEARCA senior associate for public relations, shared practical insights on leveraging Facebook to promote and sell agricultural products in her presentation, "Facebook for Marketing Agri Products." Lastly, Ms. Mara Delos Santos, a nutritionist-dietitian at RelianceUnited, a subsidiary of Unilab, discussed the significance of a balanced diet and nutrition in maintaining overall well-being in her presentation, "Importance of Diet and Nutrition in our Daily Lives."
To cap the half-day event, SEARCA and Unilab distributed vitamins and vegetable seeds to the farmers. The event encapsulated the institutions' mutual commitment to community support, sustainability, and good health and well-being.
SEARCA and Unilab distribute vitamins and vegetable seeds to the farmers.
SEARCA facilitates the handing over of Unilab's donation of three units of computers to the Dagatan Family Farm School (DFFS) in Lipa, Batangas.
In the afternoon, SEARCA facilitated the handing over of Unilab's donation of three units of computers to the Dagatan Family Farm School (DFFS) in Lipa, Batangas. DFFS is a valued partner school of the Center and is a recognized learning site for agriculture by the Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Training Institute.