FRANCE-PHILIPPINES UNITED ACTION FOUNDATION

The Foundation of CCI France-Philippines and the French Embassy

HOW WE STARTED

France-Philippines United Action Foundation (FPUA) is a Philippine, non-governmental, non-political, and non-confessional humanitarian organization founded in 2015.

Following typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines and the French Embassy created a platform to coordinate the rehabilitation efforts by French companies, and with that, the France-Philippines United Action was born.

In order to have a bigger impact and to rebuild the lives of the survivors, French businesses converged and worked collectively in raising and consolidating funds into the building of permanent houses. Three housing rehabilitation projects were built in Northern Cebu (Daanbantayan and Bogo) for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan and now accommodate more than 1200 beneficiaries.

OUR ADVOCACIES

After the rehabilitation project in response to Typhoon Haiyan, FPUA has been at the forefront of coordinating efforts from French and Philippine companies and organizations to serve various advocacies from health and nutrition, environment and sustainability, education, and livelihood.

While members and the public are invited to support existing programs, FPUA also develops bespoke initiatives tailored to the interests of our partners, and are strengthening our capacities in ESG and DEI.

ONGOING PROGRAMS

YOUTH FOR DAGAT

Funded by the French Embassy through the Blue Nations Initiative, this program aims to raise awareness and empower the youth to become a part of the climate solution and to integrate entrepreneurs and innovators into the blue/ circular economy.

This is being implemented in partnership with Plastic Odyssey, a visionary laboratory vessel on a 3-yr expedition around the most polluted waters in the world and DELFINGEN, with strong CSR initiatives within sustainability and other fields.

Phase 1 in 2024 was held in Metro Manila and Cebu, and comprised of laboratory boat and micro factory visits, educational exhibits and documentary screenings, coastal cleanups, and workshops for blue entrepreneurs.

Phase 2 that is in development will be rolled out this 2025, focusing on co-developing university and community-level interventions with partner schools, and the development of trainings and MOOCs.

Educational Assistance Program

In partnership with Children of Asia, this program aims to extend educational assistance to underprivileged students from two rehabilitation sites managed by FPUA in Daanbantayan, specifically Barangay Agujo and Barangay Paypay. The grant aims to facilitate educational support mainly through sponsorships of a total of 12 students, mostly at the College Level, attending various universities in Cebu with different courses. The program also integrates career talks, visits to the communities, and other engagements.

Mangrove Planting and Coastal Cleanups

First implemented in 2023, FPUA conducts Mangrove Planting activities to increase awareness among communities and citizens on the benefits of the mangroves, engage citizens and communities to plant mangrove, trees and to maintain the ecosystem and the biodiversity, increase local income and opportunities for fisherman and farmers communities. In partnership with Better with Water, FPUA has also organized 5 coastal cleanups, in Noveleta, Cavite (Tabing Dagat), Cebu, Bars, Paranaque, and again in Noveleta, Cavite.