MANILA, Philippines - The poverty-alleviation program Pondo ng Pinoy (PnP) has provided nearly P600,000 to a charcoal briquette-making project intended to provide livelihood to persons with disabilities.
The PnP, which was started by retired Manila Archbishop Gaudenico Rosales, donated P580,000 to the Eco-Uling project, which is being managed by 20 persons with disabilities and their young Muslim friends.
Eco-Uling is made of water lily and coconut husk and shell. The 20 persons with disabilities gather the materials, process these into charcoal briquettes and market the product.
The PnP will showcase the Eco-Uling on its 10th anniversary on June 12. Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle and 1,000 delegates from 21 dioceses would visit the property of Ed Carlos in C6 Road, Barangay Calsada, Taguig City to witness the charcoal briquettes-making starting at 8 a.m.
This would be followed by a mass celebrated by Tagle at 11 a.m.
The PnP said that through the Eco-Uling project, it has enabled persons with disabilities to earn a living by themselves and care for the environment.
The PnP aims to cultivate the culture of giving and helping among Filipinos through saving as little as 25 centavos a day as an act of love for the poor and as symbol of one’s good works.