SRE Launches Campaign To Help Typhoon-Battered Coco Coir Enterprise in Bicol

Typhoons Reming (Durian) and Seniang (Otor) have destroyed the main factory and other buildings of SRE partners CocoTechnologies and Juboken in Guinobatan, Albay. Worse, the typhoons also destroyed thousands of homes including those of workers who do the twining and weaving of coconut fiber. "Our workers have lost not only their homes but also their means of livelihood," laments Julie Arboleda, CocoTechnologies' VP of Operations, adding, "It will be a very, very sad Christmas for all of us." CocoTech specializes in bio-engineerig construction and consultancy; erosion control systems; coco peat growing media, and agricultural, agro-forestry, and horticultural products.

CocoTechnologies' coconut fiber nets, or coconets - used for soil erosion control - earned worldwide acclaim after winning first prize at the World Challenge Competition in November 2005. The competition is sponsored by the BBC, Newsweek, and Shell. The Albay operations employ more than 4,000 families, with satellite operations in other parts of the Philippines providing livelihood to an additional 3,000 families.

SRE is sending e-mail messages to a number of contact persons and organizations, particularly those based in the U.S., requesting donations to help in the rehabilitation of the homes. To avail of tax-deductibility, donations may be sent to Sustainable Rural Enterprise by check made to the AYALA FOUNDATION-USA:

Ayala Foundation-USA
255 Shoreline Dr., Ste. 128
Redwood City, CA 94065
Tel.: 1-650-508-2000, ext. 127
Fax: 1-650-508-8988

CocoTechnologies' head office in Metro Manila may be reached by telephones 63-2-426-5536 and 63-2-927-5953.

"We can't let this disaster destroy our will to survive," Ms. Arboleda vows. "We will, and we can start all over again!"

Whatever donations and contributions are received will certainly help CocoTech and its workers along the path to recovery.