Sagay City - - - The City Government of Sagay represented by City Mayor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. and Virlanie Foundation, Inc. represented by its president and founder, Mr. Dominique Lemay signed a memorandum of agreement to establish “The Educational Sustainable (Natural) Farming and Profit Center” recently in Sagay City.
Caption: Signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the City Government of Sagay and Virlanie Foundation Inc., City Mayor Alfredo G. Marañon, Jr. and foundation president Mr. Dominique Lemay. Also shown in photo at the back (l to r) City Councilors Atty. Beethoven B. Fuentesfina, Atty. Barbara Ann Tolentino, Virlanie Foundation Sagay Project Manager, Mr. Daniel Collot, City Vice Mayor Leo Rafael M. Cueva, ABC President Georgie Javelosa, City Councilor Samson Añalucas and Atty. Anamarie Palermo.
A groundbreaking and blessing at the project site was also held which preceded the signing marks the beginning of Virlanie Foundation’s pioneer project in Negros Occidental.
The project is an integrated livelihood and educational support project which is part of the Foundation’s Child and Youth Empowerment Framework and Young Adults Program. This program aims to enable the disadvantaged youths to have a productive independent living through education and enhancement of their skills on sustainable natural farming, farm management and agricultural entrepreneurship.
The City of Sagay agreed for the use of its 9.2 hectare property situated at Brgy. General Luna for a period of 25 years for this project by way of usufruct and lease.
Mr. Lemay urged everyone to work together for the realization of this project and also thanked the city and barangay officials for its support to the project.
Mayor Marañon thanked the Foundation for choosing Sagay as its center in Negros Occidental and expressed its full support to the project especially to the sustainable farming component.
The City Government of Sagay hopes to augment and enhance its own thrusts and programs on the promotion of organic/ natural farming, poverty alleviation through sustainable agriculture, and providing the necessary reintegration programs for children and youth needing special protection through this undertaking.
NISARD (Negros Island Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Foundation, Inc.) is also a project partners who will be recommending young farmers to the school farm.
Also present during the event were Sagay farm project manager, Daniel Collot, Atty. Anamarie Palermo, Ms. Beth Cabugwas, Executive Director of Volunteer Services Overseas (VSO) and Board of Trustees of Virlanie Foundation and Ms. Boody Ramos, Volunteer Development, VSO-South Africa.
City Vice Mayor Leo Rafael M. Cueva, City councilors, Atty. Beethoven B. Fuentesfina, Atty. Barbara Ann Tolentino, Samson Añalucas and ABC President Georgie S. Javelosa.
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