Jollibee Group Foundation and Partners Inaugurate First BLT Central Kitchen in BARMM

Basilan, Philippines – In a milestone initiative for child nutrition and food security, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Basilan, Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), and the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), officially inaugurated the first Busog, Lusog, Talino (BLT) Central Kitchen in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The launch took place on June 26, 2025, at the Provincial Government of Basilan Compound in Isabela City.

The BLT Central Kitchen is designed to serve young children up to 5 years old, as well as pregnant and lactating women in Isabela City and Lantawan. The initiative reflects a collaborative effort among local leaders, community stakeholders, and national partners to provide safe, nutritious meals to those who need them most.

Organizations under LCF’s Initiative for Food Security, Nutrition, and Empowerment (LIFE) Program began to lead conversations for the project in 2024, with support from ZFF already working in the province. Since its launch, the province of Basilan has been one of LIFE’s primary areas of focus, hence LCF’s hand in the partnership.

Recognizing the urgent need for nutrition interventions in Basilan, particularly among vulnerable children and mothers, the Provincial Local Government (PLGU), under Governor Jim Hataman-Salliman, committed to establishing the region’s first BLT Central Kitchen in partnership with JGF.

“We chose to begin in Basilan not only because of the high need, but also because of the strong commitment of the local government,” said LA Cruzat, JGF’s Program Director. “Kami po sa Jollibee Group Foundation ay puno ng pag-asa na mapapatakbo nang mahusay ang BLT Kitchen upang sa ganon ay marami pa tayong maabot at matulungan, hindi lang dito sa Basilan kundi sa iba pang probinsya sa BARMM.”

(“We at Jollibee Group Foundation are hopeful that the BLT Kitchen will run smoothly so that we may reach many others, not just here in Basilan but in other provinces across the BARMM as well.”)

Following the inauguration will be capacity-building training for Central Kitchen operations and recipe simulation activities for Muslim-friendly meals.

To date, a total of 37 BLT kitchens have been established nationwide—33 are currently operational, with 4 newly constructed kitchens. Fifteen of these kitchens are now serving as Kitchen Training Centers. In 2024, BLT kitchens served meals to 24,844 children in 250 schools across the country.

Under the broader Joy of Learning program, JGF’s BLT Central Kitchen Program demonstrates the power of community-based solutions in addressing malnutrition and stunting. By harnessing the strengths of partnership—resources, expertise, and a shared purpose—it sets a strong precedent for inclusive, community-led models in BARMM and beyond.

For more information on Jollibee Group, visit Jollibee Group’s official website.

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Resources:

Jollibee Group’s official website - https://jollibeegroup.com/planet/

Jollibee Group Celebrates Women Farmers Under its Farmer Entrep Program

MANILA, Philippines.– In a sector traditionally associated with men, the significant contributions of women in agriculture often go unrecognized. Official data from Philippine Statistics Authority from 2007 to 2016 shows that about 25% of workers in the agricultural sector are female, but this data may not fully reflect the actual participation on the ground according to a report by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

In its website, the PCW states that “women’s work in agriculture is normally considered to be extensions of their household tasks and therefore not reported as work.” As such, a large number of women may be unaccounted for in the agricultural sector.

In this piece, the Jollibee Group puts a spotlight on the stories of three women farmers who are proof that women can also thrive and succeed in agriculture work. 

Celebrating women farmers

Maricel Sevilleja of San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Noralyn Lopez of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur; and Bernadeth Carandang of Magallanes, Cavite are among the women farmers under the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) of the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), the social development arm of the Jollibee Group. 

The FEP was started in 2008 to help smallholder farmers become entrepreneurs—they learn technical and business skills so they can improve not only their produce, but also their source of livelihood. JGF partners with various organizations to provide the training and interventions, such as helping famers form clusters, so they can collectively meet the volume and quality requirements of buyers like the Jollibee Group. 

Sevilleja, now 41 years old and a mother of two, started farming in 2006 when her parents became too old to farm. “Farming is not only for men. We can do what men can,” she said. “Farming may be hard but when you think about it, no work in this world is easy. We only need to learn how to love and enjoy our work.”

“To my fellow women farmers, don’t be afraid to grow and learn more about modern farming. For those who would like to become farmers, welcome! Let’s show the world that women can be great farmers too.”

Like Sevilleja, Noralyn Lopez is also a farmer’s daughter. But farming wasn’t her first choice for work. “Six years akong nagtrabaho as office staff. Tumigil ako last year at nagsimulang tumulong sa tatay ko sa pag-supply ng onion sa Jollibee Group,” she shared.” (I worked as an office staff for six years. I stopped working last year to help my father in farming onions to supply to the Jollibee Group.) 

Lopez also shared her encouraging experience: “Wala naman ng gender issue. May gender equality naman na po. Ang mga kasama naman namin sa farming, itinuturing naman na akong kapatid.” (There’s a sense of gender equality. My colleagues see me as their sibling.)

Thriving in agriculture work. Bernadeth Carandang (middle in sky blue) and other women farmers proudly show their harvested onions. Aside from being a farmer, Bernadeth is also a teacher and a leader of the Mag-Samakame farmers' cooperative in Cavite. 

Bernadette Carandang shares the same sentiment. “Kaming mag-asawa, parehong magsasaka. Hindi limitasyon ang pagiging babae para sa ganitong larangan,” she said. (My husband and I are both farmers. Being a woman should never be a hindrance for this type of work.)

Before becoming a farmer, Carandang used to work in an electronics company. Today, she’s also a teacher and a farmer leader of Mag-Samakame cooperative in Cavite. She emphasized the need for sustained programs that help farmers improve their livelihood, such as the FEP.

Helping farmers to become entrepreneurs

“Tinuruan ako ng FEP na gawing matatag na negosyo ang pagsasaka,” Carandang shared. “Bukod sa kaalaman sa makabagong pagsasaka dahil sa mga bigay nitong teknikal na kaalaman, ang paghubog sa aking kamalayan na ang pagsasaka ay isang profession ay hindi matatawaran.” (FEP taught me to turn farming into a stable business. Apart from the technical skills in modern farming that I have learned from them, I have also developed the mindset that farming is a profession. This to me is invaluable.)

The white onions, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and other vegetables that the Jollibee Group uses in select products of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal come directly from smallholder farmers across the Philippines like Sevilleja, Lopez, and Carandang. In the last five years, FEP farmers have generated a total of P370 Million worth of sales.

“Jollibee Group po ang aming unang institutional buyer. Tumaas po talaga income namin. Ngayon, plano po namin na mas mapalawak pa ang koneksyon namin sa institutional buyers, in coordination with our local government unit,” Carandang said. (The Jollibee Group is our first institutional buyer. Our income definitely increased. We aim to expand our connection with institutional buyers in coordination with our local government unit.) 

But one of the greater challenges that must be addressed these days is how the younger generation perceives farming.  “Sabi ko nga sa mga estudyante ko, ‘Ano ang gusto niyo maging pag dating ng araw?’ Walang may gusto mag farming. Ngayon, tinuturuan ko sila na ang agriculture ay hindi pang mahirap. Ito ay business. Kung may farmer, may pag-asa,” Carandang said. (I asked my students, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ No one wants to become a farmer. Now I’m teaching them that farming is not a poor man’s job. It is a business. When we have more farmers, we have more hope for the future.) 

Capacitating women in agriculture. These women farmers from San Jose, Nueva Ecija, receive agro-entrepreneurship training from JGF and representatives of local government units.  

Jollibee Group Foundation Supports Ilocos Sur Farmer Group to Become Agro-Entrepreneurs

MANILA, Philippines. – Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), the social responsibility arm of Jollibee Group, continues to capacitate youth scholars, farmers, and local farming communities nationwide through its local implementing partners like the Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative (SHSC) in Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur.

JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) has been enabling several SHSC members and groups through scholarships and training since 2013. 

The Tagudin Agroentrepeneurs Association, Inc. (TAA), was the first farmer group organized by SHSC through the agro-enterprise clustering approach introduced by JGF. SHSC has been assisting TAA in marketing their products, agri-financing and agri technologies, among others.. 

“Dati kasi wala naman kaming kakayahan na magkaroon ng capital dahil nakatutok lang kami sa pagtatanim. Pero dahil sa tulong ng coop at ng JGF ay natulungan kaming makapagumpisa at magkaroon ng magandang variety ng binhi. Naturuan din kami ng iba pang kaalaman tungkol sa pagsasaka at pagnenegosyo,” said TAA’s General Manager, Michael Lorica. (“Before, we didn't have the ability to have capital because we only focused on planting. But with the help of the coop and JGF, we were able to start planting and have access to a good variety of seeds. We were also taught other knowledge about farming and doing business.”)

“Bukod pa dito, siyempre malaking bagay rin sa amin na meron na kaming sure buyer para sa aming mga produkto” he added. (“In addition to this, of course it is also a big deal for us that we now have a sure buyer for our products.”)

FEP centers on developing smallholder farmers’ leadership and technical skills by helping them become direct suppliers of high-quality vegetables to corporate buyers such as the Jollibee Group and ensure their sustainable profitability. 

With a huge pool of farmers under their cooperative, SHSC farmer members have become part of the Jollibee Group’s growing roster of produce suppliers. They started supplying green bell peppers, tomatoes, and hot peppers to the Jollibee Group in 2018. Apart from vegetables, SHSC has expanded its products for the restaurant company by supplying white onions in 2022. The SHSC farmer members have delivered a total of 170 tons of vegetables to the Jollibee Group to date. 

TAA farmers, for their part, have been supplying white onions to the Jollibee Group brands since 2015. They have provided almost 600 tons of their products since their first delivery. 

Farmer collaboration

For Lorica, the years of partnership between SHSC and JGF have helped reshape their mindset as member farmers and now, as entrepreneurs.

“Dahil iba-iba ang covered ng seminar ni JGF marami sa mga nakagawiang pamamaraan namin ang nabago. Kasama na rito ang paggamit ng consolidation area to promote food safety at mga training tulad ng AE Clustering Approach, soil testing, at livelihood recovery program. Tinulungan din nila kami na makakuha ng mga sapat na accreditation gaya ng Good Agricultural Practices,” he said. (“Many of our usual methods have been changed because of the different topics covered by JGF's seminars. This includes using a consolidation area to promote food safety and trainings such as AE Clustering approach, soil testing, and livelihood recovery program. They also helped us get adequate accreditations such as Good Agricultural Practices.”)

“Ngunit para sakin ang isa pang malaking pinapagpasalamat namin sa JGF ay ang pagbibigay nila ng training para sa farming para sa mga kabataan dahil patuloy nang tumatanda ang edad ng mga magsasaka,” Lorica added. (“But for me, another big thing that we’re thankful for about JGF is how they provide farming training for the youth, mainly because the farmers in the country are continuously aging”)

Apart from providing opportunities for economically disadvantaged sectors, JGF, through its Access, Curriculum, and Employability (ACE) Scholarship program, partners with technical-vocational training institutions to provide indigent youth with the opportunity to stay in school by developing their agro-entrepreneurship skills.

The ACE Scholarship Program aligns with the United Nations’ transformative Sustainable Development Goals aimed at bringing peace and prosperity to the world, particularly its Quality Education (SDG4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8), and Reduced Inequalities (SDG10) pillars.

Commitment to contribute

JGF has long been committed to developing relevant, effective, and sustainable programs. With the support of its partner communities and institutions, JGF continues to leverage its expertise and resources to create valuable interventions that help uplift the lives of many Filipino farmers. 

“We believe that by fostering a sustainable collaboration between the Jollibee Group and FEP partners like SHSC, we help strengthen the future of the country’s agricultural sector. Together with our partners, we will continue to develop FEP into a more inclusive and expansive program that would help address the urgent needs of various farming communities and expose them to new and innovative farming practices,” said JGF President Gisela Tiongson. 

Since 2009, the FEP has capacitated 25 farmer groups of more than 3,000 farmers. To date, these farmers have supplied a combined 10.7 million kilos worth of assorted vegetables to Jollibee Group, which amounts to Php477 million in sales. 

Onion Farmers from Ilocos, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija Cited by the Jollibee Group Foundation

MANILA, Philippines. – The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), Jollibee Group’s social development arm, recognized three farmer groups from Ilocos, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija who have completed the Agro-Enterprise Training and fulfilled their commitment to deliver white onions to Jollibee Group for the first time this year.

Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative from Ilocos Sur; Pagbiagan Multi-Purpose Cooperative from Tarlac; and Ungab Farmers Association from Nueva Ecija received the training on Agro-Enterprise Clustering Approach from October 2022 to January 2023 as part of JGF’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP). First launched in 2008, the FEP hones smallholder farmers’ leadership and business skills to collectively supply high-quality vegetables that meet corporate buyers’ standards and ensure sustainable profitability. Onions is the largest volume that farmer groups directly supply the Jollibee Group through this program.

During the Agro-Enterprise Express Training Graduation and Onion Season Kick-Off event held on August 31, JGF honored these farmer groups for their dedication and perseverance.

Future-proofing farmers

As the agricultural market became more competitive, and with the visible signs of global warming, the need to capacitate farmers with the latest business knowledge and skill set to weather them has never been more imminent.

“Malaking tulong po sa aming farmers ang mabigyan ng kaalaman sa pagnenegosyo. Natutuhan po naming kung paano i-market ang aming mga pananim. Masasabi ko na naging mas competitive po kami sa merkado pagdating sa agri-business. Dito rin po namin nalaman ang mga makabagong techniques at mga posibleng solusyon patungo po sa realidad ng global warming or climate change,” (Gaining knowledge on business is really a great help to farmers. We learned how to market our produce. I can say that we became more competitive in the agri-business market. We also learned about modern techniques and potential solutions in dealing with the reality of global warming or climate change) said Felipe Roy Cuizon, Cluster Leader of Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative.

Aside from modern farming and marketing techniques, the Agro-Enterprise Training also equips farmers with financing and crop insurance knowledge.

Sacred Heart Savings Cooperative, Pagbiagan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Ungab Farmers Association are part of the seven farmer groups that supplied white onions to various Jollibee Group brands in the 2022 to 2023 October to May Onion Season.

Cultivating change

JGF president Gisela Tiongson looks forward to nurturing new partnerships and upskilling new farmer groups for the upcoming 2024 Onion Season. JGF will continue to help improve the skills and capabilities of more smallholder farmers and empower them to create positive changes that will benefit their families and communities.

“Hangga’t ang mga magsasaka ay nananatiling nakatuon sa layunin na mas paangatin pa ang kanilang kakayahan at kabuhayan, kami sa JGF ay magpapatuloy din sa adhikain ng FEP at magsusumikap na maghanap ng mga bagong paraan upang suportahan ang kanilang mga pangarap na maging farmer entrepreneurs,” (As long as the farmers remain committed to the goal their aspiration of improving their skills and their livelihoods, we at JGF will also continue FEP’s mission and we will work harder to look for new ways to support their dreams of becoming farmer entrepreneurs) Tiongson added.

This sustainable collaboration between FEP farmers and institutions like JGF signifies growth and a promising future for the country’s agricultural community at a time when it is needed the most.

Jollibee Group Foundation Western Mindanao State University Help Fulfill Scholar’s Dream Career

MANILA, Philippines. – The Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), Jollibee Group’s social development arm, has long been committed to building meaningful partnerships that help uplift the lives of many young Filipinos. Through its Access, Curriculum and Employability (ACE) Scholarship Program, JGF has been working closely with partner schools and institutions to provide underprivileged students with opportunities to achieve their goals andpositively impact their families and communities. 

Julito Mandac, current Dean of J.H. Cerilles State College’s School of Business and Management, was among the pioneering ACE scholars at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU). He makes sure to give back to WMSU and JGF by paying it forward to his students and contributing to their personal and career development.

“After graduation, I didn’t know where I should apply, but there were so many offers then. And I think it’s my destiny to work in the academe. One of my goals right now is to share the learnings and knowledge that I gained from JGF and WMSU with other people,” Mandac said. 

JGF played a significant role in the conception of WMSU’s Hotel and Restaurant Management program in 2008.  JGF provided a two-year scholarship assistance to qualified high school graduates while assisting the schools to develop their HRM program further.

“As the demand for employees with skills and expertise in Customer Service and Management for Hotels, Airlines, and Cruise ships continues to rise, the ACE Scholarship Program saw it fit to enroll qualified students in the WMSU’s College of Home Economics,” said Lee Patrick Brown, faculty, WMSU Hospitality Management Department. “To accommodate these students and to further specify the different skills and proficiency needed for this industry, the WMSU ultimately decided to introduce a new and more focused program.” WMSU officially opened its Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BSHRM) program in June 2008 with JGF providing scholarships for 36 students. 

Aside from giving tuition, the ACE Scholarship Program also provided management and leadership training. Mandac was one of the scholars who experienced this as he and other scholars underwent on-the-job training at the Jollibee store in Southway Mall, Zamboanga City.

Nurturing growth through training 

Mandac was assigned to the counter for the entire duration of his store duty. Even as a trainee, he was given the responsibility of supervising the counter during store evaluation and accreditation. 

“Jollibee gave us the idea that working in the food industry requires hard-working and focused team members. You always need to have a positive mindset because we are dealing with customers, and we’re on the front lines. To this day, all the lessons and skills we have honed during our store experience are embedded in our day-to-day activities,” he shared. 

Mandac joined J.H. Cerilles State College after graduation. Before becoming a dean, he was appointed as Chair of the Hospitality Management Program and likewise assumed roles in various offices such as International Affairs, among others.

Aside from being the Dean, Mandac concurrently serves as the college’s Human Resource Management Director and Research and Hospitality Management instructor. 

“All of my learnings from the scholarship are embedded in my class discussions. I still use my experiences as an example, especially if we’re talking about operations and delivery of services. I make sure to share about them not only for our students but also for the future generation who will be taking on the improvement and development of the industry,” he added. 

The program, now referred to as Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM), continues to thrive today. BSHM is a Level III Accredited Program by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), the highest level of accreditation of any school in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Since 2020, it has also been granted an ISO 9001:2015 certification, which reflects the WMSU’s continuous pursuit of quality education and effective service to the students and its stakeholders. 

“The ripples of JGF’s efforts and passion from the past continue to impact and touch the lives of young people in Zamboanga City and Western Mindanao. Due to their efforts, we are optimistic that our graduates would flourish in their careers,” Brown said. 

Mang Inasal Launches ACE QSR Scholarship for Deserving Young Women of Lipa!

Mang Inasal launched its participation in the ACE Scholarship Program for Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) Operations of Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF). This was part of the recent inauguration of Mang Inasal’s milestone 600th Store in Lipa, Batangas,

The ACE QSR program seeks to give underprivileged youth from Lipa the chance to develop the skills they need to be gainfully employed in the QSR industry.

Through the network of Pondong Batangan Community Foundation, Inc. in the Archdiocese of Lipa, four scholars from Lipa will be selected and join a class of students who will undertake a QSR Technical-Vocational Course in Anihan Technical School in Calamba. This includes six months of in-school instruction and six months of on-the-job training.

Here, the scholars will learn the rudiments of food preparation and food service. They will earn three TESDA certificates/qualifications at the end of the Program.

Being considered for the scholarship are single women aged 18 – 21, senior high school graduate with at least an 80% scholastic average, coming from a household with a combined family income of P200,000 or less, and willing to study and stay in Calamba City, Laguna for one year.

The scholars supported by MI will begin in June 2020 and their program will run for a year.

“As Mang Inasal grows as an enterprise, it also wants to do its share in building strong host communities whose residents are provided the chance to become more productive members of society. This is the least we can do to reciprocate the support we have been getting from our communities,” said Jojo Subido, MI Business Head.