Security Bank Corp. (SBC), in partnership with Angat Pinas, Inc. and local NGO BUSOE Inc., has launched the Integrated Community Development Project in Malinao, Aklan — with cacao farming as a central component of its sustainable livelihood initiative.
A ceremonial cacao planting marked the start of the one-year program in Brgy. Kinalangay Viejo, which targets 40 farmers and solo parents. Supported by SBC’s grant, the project will provide 500 cacao seedlings to establish an eco-tourism cacao plantation, along with poultry kits to generate interim income. Tools such as chainsaws, bolos, and hoes will also be distributed to assist in land preparation and community rescue operations.
BUSOE Inc., short for Beacon for the Upliftment of Status of Everyone, operates cacao plantations and food gardens in the region, promoting local volunteerism and resilience. Malinao — a cultural and eco-tourism destination — is set to benefit from this inclusive model integrating agriculture, entrepreneurship, and disaster preparedness.
Training from the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute will equip participants with technical skills in farming and livestock care, complemented by psychosocial and values formation sessions.
The initiative builds on SBC’s previous collaboration with Angat Buhay in Nueva Ecija, expanding its mission of empowering communities through sustainable agriculture and social enterprise. The bank and its partners envision the Malinao project as a replicable model for rural economic development.
