CLFI, Sagada partner for inclusive community development

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By Rhea Peñaflor

In a shared commitment to deepen community empowerment and advance inclusive development, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc. (CLFI) and the Municipality of Sagada formalized their partnership through the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Jan. 27, 2026.

The ceremonial signing marked the start of a collaborative effort grounded in mutual trust, shared values, and a collective vision of communities where no one is left behind.

CLFI was represented by Executive Director JoAnn Y. Tacorda, while the Sagada local government unit was represented by Mayor Felicito O. Dula.

The partnership centers on Barangay Kilong, recognizing the importance of focused, place-based interventions that address both immediate needs and long-term aspirations of the community.

Anchored on CLFI’s four advocacy pillars — financial inclusion, inclusive education, community development, and disaster resilience — the agreement provides a framework for coordinated initiatives aimed at strengthening local capacity and promoting participatory development.

Sagada is a fifth-class municipality in Mountain Province known for its tourism industry, unique cultural heritage, and mountainous terrain, which present both development opportunities and geographic challenges.

The agreement reflects a shared belief that sustainable progress is best achieved when institutions work closely with communities and local governments.

For CLFI, the partnership reinforces its commitment to development initiatives that are inclusive, culturally responsive, and rooted in grassroots realities.

Through collaborative planning and implementation, the foundation envisions Barangay Kilong as a model of empowered community action, where local voices help shape development pathways.

The partnership also creates opportunities to advance financial inclusion by promoting financial literacy, expanding access to appropriate financial services, and supporting livelihood-enabling initiatives.

These efforts aim to help families manage resources, build savings, and make informed financial decisions that strengthen household resilience.

The memorandum also recognizes the transformative role of inclusive education in promoting long-term social and economic mobility.

By exploring education-focused interventions, particularly for youth and underserved sectors, the partnership seeks to strengthen learning pathways that are accessible, relevant, and aligned with opportunities within and beyond the community.

Given Sagada’s geographic and environmental context, disaster resilience is another key area of collaboration.

The partnership underscores the importance of preparedness, risk awareness, and community-led resilience initiatives that reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen collective response during crises.

By integrating resilience into community planning, CLFI and the Sagada local government unit aim to support communities that can adapt, recover, and thrive despite uncertainties.

Following the signing, the CLFI team conducted a courtesy visit to Barangay Kilong and met with barangay officials and community leaders.

The visit provided a platform for dialogue, allowing both parties to better understand the community’s priorities, strengths, and aspirations.

It also highlighted the readiness of Barangay Kilong to collaborate in shaping responsive and sustainable programs.

The engagement at the barangay level affirmed a shared understanding that meaningful development begins with listening, partnership, and trust.

Aligning institutional resources with local leadership and community insights helps ensure initiatives are effectively implemented, locally owned, and sustained.

As CLFI continues to work with the Sagada local government unit, the partnership reflects what can be achieved when development efforts are anchored in collaboration and guided by a clear sense of purpose.

More than a formal agreement, the memorandum represents a collective commitment to building inclusive and resilient communities with long-term impact.

Together, CLFI and the Municipality of Sagada move forward with renewed determination, working closely with Barangay Kilong and its residents to advance a vision of development that leaves no one behind.