A Legacy of Partnership and Meaningful Transformations

In the 1980s, when the Philippine NGO community faced challenges in accessing international development funds, the Assisi Development Foundation, Inc. (ADF)—led by its Founder and Chairperson, Ambassador Howard Q. Dee—took the initiative to address this issue. In 1985, ADF, together with four other Philippine NGO networks, engaged the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in discussions to increase Canadian funding support for NGO activities in the country. This effort led to the creation of the Philippine Development Assistance Programme (PDAP) in 1986, now known as the Partnership for Development in the Philippines Inc.

Committed to national and social transformation, peace, justice, and environmentally sustainable development, PDAP initially operated through a dual-committee structure, with one committee in Canada and another in the Philippines. ADF played a crucial role in incubating the PDAP-Philippines committee and served as its Secretariat until PDAP’s incorporation in 1990.

From its inception, ADF has been a steadfast partner of PDAP, working together on community-based projects to address poverty and inequity. Over three decades, our partnership has brought both challenges and triumphs in uplifting marginalized Filipinos—particularly farmers and fisherfolk in rural areas.

One of our most significant collaborations was in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (2013). Recognizing the urgent need for relief and long-term recovery, PDAP and ADF launched initiatives to revitalize local economies, particularly in the agriculture and fishing sectors—which were among the hardest hit.

Through the “Seaweed and Bangus Culture for Rural Households” project in Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas of Western Samar, we provided production inputs, capacity-building programs, and market access support to accelerate the economic recovery of seaweed farmers and fisherfolk’s wives engaged in fish processing in Basey and Marabut. The project also strengthened local organizations and introduced a self-help savings mobilization scheme to ensure long-term economic resilience for farmers and fisherfolk.

ADF’s unwavering support continues to guide PDAP’s strategic direction, particularly in the economic empowerment of collective rural social enterprises. As we look to the future, we are eager to explore new opportunities for collaboration that will further strengthen our partnership and create lasting impacts in the communities we serve.

Happy 50th Anniversary, ADF! We celebrate your five decades of transformative service and look forward to many more years of meaningful collaboration.