Malacañan Palace
11 March 2014
President Benigno S. Aquino III graced the Twin Milestone Celebration of Jollibee Food Corporation (JFC) held at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace.
In his message, the President recognized Jollibee’s efforts and programs that uplift the lives of many Filipinos. Aside from providing jobs to more than 108,000 Pinoys, the biggest fast food chain in the country gives knowledge and skills about farming and entrepreneurship to local farmers through its Farmer Entrepreneurship Program that started in 2008. Through this initiative, the farmer-beneficiaries became direct suppliers of vegetables and other crops of Jollibee.
President Aquino also mentioned that the Department of Agriculture collaborated with JFC to further widen the program and that it allotted P8.15 million in 2013 for the farmers under the program.
Moreover, President Aquino showed appreciation to Jollibee’s Busog, Lusog, Talino School Feeding Program which is being offered to elementary students in more than 100 cities and municipalities in the country, and the corporation’s relief operations after typhoon Yolanda struck the country last year.
“Sa huli, hindi po nagbabago ang mga sangkap ng inihahain nating reporma sa bansa: itinataguyod natin ang tapat at mabuting pamamahala sa gobyerno; inilalatag natin ang mas malawak na oportunidad sa kaunlaran ng bawat Pilipino— lahat ng ito, magbubunsod sa isang mas masaganang Pilipinas. Tulad po ng ehemplo ng Jollibee— huwag na tayong mangarap nang patingi-tingi. Magsasaka ka man na nagpupunla ng binhi sa lalawigan; kahera ka man sa isang tindahan o kainan; negosyante ka mang nagsisimula sa maliit na puhunan— nasa kamay mo ang pagkakataong magdulot ng pagbabago, hindi lang sa iyong sarili o sa iyong pamilya, kundi sa kalakhang lipunan,” the President said.
Jollibee is celebrating two major milestones: the opening of its 800th store in the country which is located in Malaybalay, Bukidnon and its 100th international store located in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
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