RC Tiger Mandaluyong and RCC Bayaninegosyo Sign MOU to Launch Sustainable Taho Livelihood Initiative

The Rotary Club of Tiger Mandaluyong (RCTM) and Rotary Community Corps Bayaninegosyo (RCC Bayaninegosyo), in partnership with Avenida Events, formally strengthened their commitment to community empowerment with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a sustainable livelihood project aimed at uplifting local families through entrepreneurship.

The MOU, signed on January 24, 2026, in Mandaluyong City, supports the project entitled “Empowering Communities through Training and Mentoring and Donation of Taho StartUp Containers for Sustainable Livelihood.” The initiative is aligned with Rotary International’s Area of Focus on Community Economic Development and is designed to provide selected community members with practical skills, mentoring support, and essential tools to establish and sustain taho micro-enterprises. 

The signing coincided with the project’s initial implementation, held at the Day Care Center Integrated School, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City, emphasizing that true service goes beyond giving—it empowers. Through hands on training and guided mentoring, beneficiaries were introduced to both the art and business of taho-making, transforming a simple, well loved Filipino product into a dignified and reliable source of daily income. Under the MOU, RCTM will lead the design and implementation of structured training and mentoring programs covering basic entrepreneurship, financial literacy, hygiene standards, and sustainability practices over a three to six month period.

The Club will also conduct regular monitoring and evaluation to track progress and ensure the longterm viability of the beneficiaries’ businesses. 

RCC Bayaninegosyo, for its part, will identify and mobilize five to ten committed beneficiaries and/or mentors, provide handson mentoring support, and ensure the proper use, care, and maintenance of the donated taho startup containers to maximize the project’s impact. 

Both parties underscored the importance of continuous mentoring, close coordination, and transparent reporting to ensure the sustainability of the livelihood initiative. Regular progress updates and coordination meetings are built into the partnership to guide implementation, address challenges, and strengthen outcomes. 

“This partnership reflects Rotary’s belief that sustainable change happens when communities are empowered with skills, opportunities, and shared responsibility,” shared Hermenegildo G. Cariño, Charter President and Vice President of the Rotary Club of Tiger Mandaluyong.

Special recognition was given to Rtn. Gayle Antes and Rtn. Erick Antes of Avenida Events, whose generosity made the initiative possible. Their support in providing the necessary tools and hands on training for taho production exemplifies the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self, turning goodwill into tangible, lifechanging impact.

The MOU is effective for six months, with an option for extension by mutual agreement, reflecting a shared vision of collaboration, service, and lasting community impact. As Rotarians, the Rotary Club of Tiger Mandaluyong remains committed to creating programs that uplift lives, strengthen communities, and promote selfreliance—one sustainable livelihood at a time. 

Together, Rotary does not just serve communities; it empowers them.

Written by: IPP Joan Tejada, Rotary Club of Tiger Mandaluyong