Diocese of Libmanan, NORFIL-BEN to Sign ₱10.7-Million Inclusion Project Agreement
NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur, November 5, 2026 — The Diocese of Libmanan, through Caritas Diocese of Libmanan, Inc. (CDL), will formalize a ₱10.76-million partnership with NORFIL-BEN, with Liliane Fonds also serving as a partner in implementation, to advance the rights, education, and social inclusion of children and youth with disabilities in Milaor and San Fernando, Camarines Sur.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed during a luncheon meeting at Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City, marking a significant step toward implementing the NORFIL-BEN 2026–2027 project, which will run from October 2026 to December 2027.
NORFIL Foundation, Inc., a national, non-stock, non-profit, non-governmental social welfare organization established in 1983, brings extensive experience in social development to the initiative. Founded by Norwegian couple Ebbe and Berit Gronvold, together with Angela Maria “Beth” Pangan, a retired social worker of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), NORFIL works to promote the welfare and development of vulnerable sectors of Philippine society. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), licensed and accredited by the DSWD, and certified by the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC).
LILIANE FONDS, also known as the LILIANE FOUNDATION, is an international non-profit organization based in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. It works to ensure that children and young people with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries can participate fully in society, enjoy equal rights, and have opportunities to develop their independence and potential. Its approach combines community-based rehabilitation, individualized support, capacity building for local partner organizations, and advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities.
The project has a proposed budget of ₱10,766,097.54, comprising a requested contribution of ₱9,375,020.04 from NORFIL-BEN and a counterpart contribution of ₱1,391,077.50 from Caritas Diocese of Libmanan.
The initiative seeks to build inclusive and accessible communities where children and youth with disabilities can exercise their rights, participate meaningfully in society, and pursue dignified, independent, and productive lives.
It will directly engage 300 learners with disabilities, two federations of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), four public secondary schools, and 20 teachers and school administrators. Families and caregivers, local government units, barangay partners, community organizations, and service providers will also be involved.
Recognizing that lasting inclusion requires cooperation among individuals and institutions, the project will bring together persons with disabilities, their families, schools, educators, OPDs, local government partners, and service providers to strengthen community support, improve access to services, and expand opportunities for meaningful participation.
The initiative will focus on five interconnected areas: community development and inclusion; education and learning support; livelihood and economic empowerment; social protection and rights; and capacity building for Caritas Diocese of Libmanan.
Through these components, the project seeks to raise community awareness, promote inclusive learning environments, expand access to skills development and livelihood opportunities, strengthen knowledge of rights and available services, and enhance CDL’s organizational capacity to sustain inclusive development.
At the heart of the undertaking is the principle, “Nothing about us, without us,” emphasizing that persons with disabilities must have a meaningful voice in decisions and programs affecting their lives. Their active participation will help ensure that interventions respond to their actual needs, aspirations, and experiences.
The partners envision communities that listen to children and youth with disabilities, adapt to their needs, and recognize their abilities and potential—not merely as recipients of assistance, but as active participants who can learn, contribute, and assume leadership roles.
For Caritas Diocese of Libmanan, the initiative is a concrete expression of Christian charity, translating concern for vulnerable persons into sustained efforts to build communities where everyone is recognized, valued, and included.
Through this collaboration, the Diocese, NORFIL-BEN, and Liliane Fonds seek to move beyond assistance toward a rights-based and community-driven approach in which children and youth with disabilities are recognized as persons with dignity, rights, abilities, and the potential to contribute meaningfully to society.
ECCORD Project to Strengthen Disaster Resilience of Coastal Communities in Cabusao
NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur, November 5, 2026 — The ECCORD Project, implemented by the Diocese of Libmanan through Caritas Diocese of Libmanan, Inc. (CDL) and funded by Caritas Australia, seeks to empower coastal communities in Cabusao, Camarines Sur, to become more resilient to natural hazards and climate change while strengthening household food security and generating sustainable sources of income.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) formalizing the partnership will be signed during a luncheon meeting on November 5, 2026, at Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City.
The project, implemented in partnership with the Municipality of Cabusao and the barangay local government units of Barcelonita, Castillo, Pandan, and Sta. Cruz, aims to strengthen community-based economic initiatives and promote the active participation of vulnerable sectors in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (DRR-CCA).
ECCORD-CCA has an overall goal of helping communities and people’s organizations become self-reliant and self-sufficient in mitigating the effects of natural hazards and securing household food supplies through supplemental income generation. It promotes sustainable livelihoods based on available community resources and climate change adaptation strategies, while organizing Self-Help Groups and providing technical support to improve participants’ skills and knowledge in managing small enterprises.
Running from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027, the project directly benefits coastal communities in four barangays of Cabusao. Its target groups include women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and artisanal fishers, with the municipal and barangay local government units serving as key partners in implementation.
The initiative pursues four major objectives: strengthening the resilience of community-based economic initiatives; ensuring the inclusive participation of vulnerable sectors in DRR-CCA; increasing the meaningful participation of the fisheries sector in local DRR-CCA governance; and establishing mechanisms for efficient project implementation and long-term sustainability.
Among its expected outcomes are coastal barangays with stronger disaster resilience and climate adaptation initiatives, 200 member households from four community-based organizations with improved economic resilience, and effective project implementation mechanisms that support sustainability and replication.
By combining livelihood development with disaster preparedness and inclusive local governance, ECCORD seeks to help fishing communities better withstand environmental and economic challenges. The initiative recognizes that resilience requires not only preparedness for natural hazards but also reliable sources of income, food security, community participation, and access to appropriate knowledge and support.
The partnership also reflects the importance of collaboration among the Church, local government, community organizations, and international development partners in addressing the vulnerabilities of coastal communities.
Through Caritas Diocese of Libmanan, with the support of Caritas Philippines and Caritas Australia, the Diocese continues to promote community-based development that enables vulnerable families to strengthen their livelihoods, participate in decisions affecting their communities, and build a more secure and sustainable future.
For the fisherfolk and other vulnerable residents of Cabusao, the ECCORD Project represents a collective effort to build coastal communities that are better prepared for disasters, more adaptable to climate change, and more capable of sustaining their families and livelihoods.