- Okada Manila partners with SEED Philippines for a community immersion and turnover ceremony at the SEED campus in Gawad Kalinga Bayanihan Village, strengthening rural development through education and agricultural innovation.
- Okada Manila sponsored SEED graduates from Leyte and Bacolod, supporting their efforts to create farms and pursue careers in agriculture, non-profits, and local government.
- The initiative aligns with Okada Manila’s Green Heart initiative, using proceeds from their Balik Baterya campaign to fund scholarships and empower the next generation of agri-leaders in the Philippines.
As part of the integrated resort's Okada Green Heart initiative, within its Talent & Community pillar, Okada Manila delegates went to the SEED campus in Gawad Kalinga Bayanihan Village in Cavite for a community immersion and turnover ceremony.
The activity promoted engaging interactions among stakeholders, students, and residents, and strengthened a common vision towards overcoming rural development issues through education, enterprise, and agricultural innovation.
Okada Manila sponsored the initial batch of SEED graduates from Leyte and Bacolod, who established approximately six farms under their rigorous training program. These scholars have since pursued study-for-purpose avenues working in local government agriculture offices, integrating with non-profit groups, and earning college degrees on their own.
"We are honored to be backing initiatives that create sustainable, long-term value for people and the planet", noted Kenji Sugiyama, Managing Director and CSR Committee Member of Okada Manila. "By partnering with SEED Philippines, we are supporting emerging changemakers who have the potential to change their world through sustainable agriculture, innovation, and social entrepreneurship".
The scholarship program provides young individuals from underprivileged groups with a chance to become future agri-leaders, empowered with the expertise to establish sustainable livelihoods and contribute to securing the country's future in agriculture.
"Today's achievement of this partnership with Okada Manila is a testament that true change starts when we unite for a common cause", according to SEED Philippines Director Mark Lawrence Cruz. Your support provided our scholars with the opportunity to be the next generation of agri-leaders and food producers for their families and communities. At SEED, we embody the 'Walang Iwanan' spirit, and we are humbled to partner with Okada Manila on this mission to train the next generation of agri-leaders and food producers for the Philippines. No idle people, no idle land. Gawad Kalinga SEED and Okada Manila collaborating towards a more productive Philippines.
SEED Philippines is recognized for its inclusive agri-entrepreneurship model, which empowers youth to create rural business that fights poverty, food insecurity, and revitalize farming communities. The support of Okada Manila has facilitated more scholars to avail themselves of this life-changing education.
This campaign is also driven by the proceeds of Okada Manila's Balik Baterya collaboration with Motolite, which recycles responsibly used lead-acid batteries (ULABs). In 2024, the campaign collected ₱1,034,880.00 from four batches of donations weighing 32,340 kilograms of batteries.
SEED scholar Jodel Sanchez, who is 27 years old and from Iloilo, said his thanks, "Thank you to Okada Manila for being able to support the scholars of SEED Philippines". For the youth who do not have access to education and cannot even complete school, you were the ones who came forward to alleviate the suffering in our nation. SEED Philippines has a strong voice against agriculture, and we youth are taking the challenge of replacing the older generation of farmers. We are the youth who will be rejuvenating agriculture in our nation.
