Building for the Future

Before utilizing their Fair Trade Community Development Funds, coconut farmers at Peter Paul Philippine Corporation Candelaria lacked a dedicated workspace. The association relied on renting a small monthly office and frequently held important meetings in local restaurants. Seeking a sustainable, permanent solution to support their operations, the farmers voted to construct their own multi purpose building. Completed in 2017, this facility features eight rooms and a spacious function hall, directly benefiting 923 local coconut farmers. To protect this vital community asset, the farmers invested $2,800 USD of Community Develpment Funds in 2025 for comprehensive facility maintenance. This critical funding covered essential wall repairs, fresh painting, and pipeline updates. It also secured the year's electricity, water, and internet services, alongside necessary property taxes and building insurance. These proactive financial decisions future-proof the space so that it can remain fully operational and highly accessible for community events, daily administrative tasks, and local tenants. Beyond serving as a reliable administrative hub, the building functions as a powerful economic engine for the cooperative. The association actively rents out available rooms to generate consistent additional income. This steady rental revenue provides the farmers a mechanism to maintain the property independently, streamline their daily operations, and confidently fund future community initiatives. By transforming a basic need for office space into a sustainable revenue stream, the farmers took control of their organizational future. Ultimately, this project demonstrates how strategic Fair Trade investments create lasting infrastructure that continually serves and sustains small producer communities for years to come.