Preda is working with many farmers to prepare them for conversion to organic mango production. In 2-3 years, the organic certified mangoes could be in Europe.

The most oppressed Aeta Indigenous People participated in the Sustainable farming and Organic Farming seminar on September 16, 2004 held in the Agricultural University near Preda center.

Preda helps the Tribal Filipinos to hold at bay the greedy land grabbers who wants to get their ancestral lands. The rich are using the military but Preda helps the indigenous people organize themselves and gives them training in human rights. They are also encouraged to go into organic farming and planting of mango saplings that will help them retain their ancestral lands. Preda provides 1,000 mango saplings every year.

GLOBAL JOURNEY OF FAIR TRADE MARK

Hundreds of Fair Trade supporters led by Preda organizers took to the streets waving banners to proclaim principles of Fair Trade to counter injustices and unfair trade in the Philippines. The Philippines became the third stop in a global Journey of the “FTO Mark”. 

The FTO mark was first received in Davao City through a Farmers’ Forum on Fair Trade organized by PREDA Fair Trade on July 13, 2004. From Mindanao, The Mark was passed to the Visayas and paraded in Bacolod, Iloilo and Cebu. In Manila, the FTO Mark was displayed during a motorcade that started at the Quezon City Memorial Circle and Culminated in a “ send-off party” at the Conspiracy Bar along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City on July 28, 2004.

Through the global journey of the fair trade mark, people have gained new insights to the benefits of fair trading and hopefully encouraged them to support fair trade.

The Preda Fair Trade team begins the march of the Fair Trade Mark on July 28, 2004

Preda Children eat organic rice

Health is wealth as old adage says. Thus we serve organic rice to the children in the Preda Homes. 

The rice is naturally and organically produced by the farmers at nearby towns utilizing composting and vermiculture technology that allows the production of environment-friendly, safe and nutritious food.

Seventy percent of the Philippines' population lives in the rural area while 39 % lives below the poverty line. As the globalization favors the rich over the poor, the rich continue to control the market over the disadvantaged farmers. But not the mango industry since Preda and profood become big buyers of mango fruit.

To help organize the farmers, traders and processors, Preda facilitated a 2-day forum held in the Mindanao Region on July 13-14, 2004. The participants were enlightened about Fair Trade: Making markets work for the poor. The cooperative action will give power and control to the poor farmers through fair trade.

The forum also developed solidarity between farmers, traders and processors. The partnership of Preda and Profood provides a doorway for the best price for their fruits in the market. This partnership prevents the price fixing cartel that oppressed the poor farmers from reorganizing itself. Preda-Profood is a Fair Alternative to corrupt price fixing by the rich exporters.

The new partnership benefits the following:

Farmers representative (left), Food processor (middle) and Preda Representative during the Signing of "Declaration of Partnership and Commitment on Fair Trade Principles and Practices".

This occasion is highlighted by the receiving of the "FTO mark", a banner that carries the symbol of fair trade organizations, through all the countries where IFAT members and carried by FTO's and its supporters. A symbolic signing of "Declaration of Partnership and Commitment to Fair Trade Principles and Practices was done between the producers and the processor so as to give deeper meaning to the activity. Then the Ft mark was passed on to Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu and Manila.

INSIGHTS from the PARTICIPANTS...

"I am truly impressed, grateful and very much honored to be here, plus to know the noble cause and advocacies of PREDA, Profood and Fair Trading per se."

Darwin Jimeno - Mango Farmer

"The consultation was a good venue to discuss the issues & problems of small mango growers. The activity facilitated linkage among growers/producers & processors."

Betty More - NGO worker

"Communication with each other whether on the processing side or programs for the farmers are very important. It links our communication gap and transform to a better quality objectives.

PREDA makes a good impression & clear vision to farmers who are willing to have partnership to come up with the same objectives to benefit & help the poor farmers."

Jean Young-Uy- Food Processor

"The fruit industry is an alternative kind of business and fair trade is a new way of thinking that can help small farmers/cooperatives/ businessmen and women survive in this era of globalization."

Julius Pimentel-Mango Grower

Participants pose for a souvenir picture after a successful 2-day forum

TREE PLANTING

Preda Fair Trade gave a total of 1,000 grafted mango saplings to the four (4) Aeta communities of Zambales. Seventy-five calamansi seedlings were also given to LAKAS, an Aeta community, to help its women in their herbal plants propagation project. When the seedlings become trees, they will help prevent erosion, clean the air aside from being a source of income once they bear fruits.

AKBAY youth group, CFC children, foreign volunteers, PREDA staffers together with the people of the communities joined hands during the tree planting activities conducted last July 31, August 7 and 21, 2004. Mango trees will ensure protection of the denuded forest area and the fruits will give income to the Aeta Tribal Filipinos in the near future. Other tree species are also planted.

Aside from the tree planting, the group had a chance to interact with each other. They learned and appreciated the simplicity of life and they enjoyed the encounter with the nature.

Preventive Seminar to Preda Producer groups

In response to Preda's zeal of holistic human development, the fair trade producers are provided with economic and livelihood sustainability, they also receive seminars to enrich their social awareness.

Preda fair trade department in partnership with Preda's education team conducted a preventive seminar with topics on family violence, child abuse and children's rights. A total of 52 parents/workers attended the seminar on domestic violence and responsible parenting while 292 high school and 172 children received lectures on children's right and child abuse.

Solidarity Visit

Commercio Alternativo representative Diego Simone and Sandra Endrizzi of CTM both based in Italy visited Preda producer groups on July 16-31 and August 31-September 1, 2004 respectively.

Diego Simone of Commercio Alternativo visited the wrought-iron producer

Sandra of CTM during the meeting with the Preda Fair Trade team

During their visits they met with the Preda Fair Trade team. They discussed the partnership and how to work together to improve cooperation for the benefit of the producers. They also visited nearby producer groups to see their condition and the actual production of products.

Preda Fair Trade is successful because of the support and perseverance of the producers. Preda continues to provide assistance to the producers so as to improve production and to give dignity to their labor. Here's some of our projects that help the producers:

BLESSING of the water system project supplied to Escoba producer by Preda. Preda gave materials while the producers provided labor to make the project.

A Child together with Preda volunteers enjoys the potable water in one of the three (3) jetmatic pumps built by Preda and producers.

Improvement of the workshop of GEFA by Preda fair Trade funds. GEFA is a producer of fashion accessories based in Cebu City.

Dust suction system with funds from Preda is built in GEFA workshop to ensure health safety of the workers.

Constructed toilets for the workers of Michael Concept International (MCI) based in Cebu City.

Expansion of DOREVI'S workshop-producer of bamboo handicrafts based in Pangasinan provide by low interest load from Preda

Two (2) unit hand grinders for MCI supplied by dividend fund.

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