Villagers hold up solar lanterns donated by the All Lights Village project.
Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Philippines continued to strengthen community development efforts in 2025 through expanded government partnerships, the rollout of new All-Lights Villages, and sustained engagement with off-grid and underserved communities across the country.
A key milestone reached was the renewal of GPF Philippines’ Civil Society Organization (CSO) accreditation with the Provincial Government of Nueva Ecija, its sixth accreditation, following formal deliberation at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Nueva Ecija, in Palayan City. Approved through Resolution No. 486-S-2025 in accordance with Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) guidelines, particularly Memorandum Circular No. 2025-060, the Provincial Government, the accreditation enables GPF Philippines to maintain its role as a voting member of the Provincial Local Development Council. This position allows the organization to contribute directly to provincial development planning, investment programming, and policy discussions.
As part of its mandate, GPF Philippines also participated in the 4th Quarter Joint Meeting of key provincial councils, including the Provincial Development Council, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and Peace and Order Council. The meeting reviewed peace and security updates and approved the Province’s 2026–2028 Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan, reinforcing coordinated, multi-sectoral approaches to local development and security.
Expansion of the All-Lights Village Program
All-Lights Village street lanterns
In December, GPF Philippines and its partners launched the 57th All-Lights Village in Sitio Calumpit, Barangay Macabud, Rodriguez, Rizal. Implemented in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office IV-A, the Local Government Unit of Rodriguez, and Bless Microfinance Corporation, the initiative adopted one hundred partner-beneficiary families, half of whom are Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, living in an off-grid community.
The program combined social preparation activities, community needs assessment, and a visioning workshop with the installation of solar streetlights and distribution of solar lamps. The intervention directly addressed the community’s lack of reliable lighting,
supporting household safety, children’s learning, and livelihood activities after dark. Local leaders and partners emphasized that access to clean energy serves as an entry point for broader development outcomes when combined with capacity-building and community participation.
Nationwide Community Development Outcomes
Throughout 2025, GPF Philippines established 12 All-Lights Villages across five regions, 10 provinces, and 12 local government units, reaching approximately 1,200 families or an estimated 6,000 individuals. The program distributed 1,200 solar lamps, installed 120 solar streetlights, and provided solar generator systems to two Indigenous Peoples’ schools to improve learning conditions in last-mile areas.
These efforts were implemented in coordination with national agencies, particularly DSWD, and aligned with local government electrification, education, and poverty reduction priorities. As a licensed Auxiliary Social Welfare and Development Agency (SWDA), GPF Philippines supported DSWD engagement mechanisms through capacity-building, monitoring, feedback systems, and disaster risk reduction initiatives.
GPF Philippines also formalized partnerships through fifteen Memoranda of Agreement with DSWD field offices and local government units, alongside collaborations with corporate partners including Bless Microfinance Corporation, SM Cares, Security Bank Corporation, Megawide Foundation, and BPI CorpBO–BAYAN.
Expanding Access to Education through GlobALS
Complementing its community development and energy access initiatives, GPF Philippines supported basic education in underserved communities through the Global Peace Foundation – Alternative Learning System (GlobALS), implemented in coordination with the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System. GlobALS provides learning opportunities for out-of-school children, youth, and adults, with the aim of developing functional literacy, life skills, and values that support family stability and community participation. The most recent GlobALS site was implemented in Barangay La Paz, where 18 learners were enrolled during School Year 2024–2025.
Strengthening Institutions and Sustainability
Solar lanterns light up All Lights Village
Beyond service delivery, GPF Philippines focused on strengthening institutional capacity and sustainability. Monitoring and evaluation activities were conducted using the Poverty Stoplight Tool to track progress in areas such as energy access, education, health, and livelihood readiness. Community organizations and People’s Organizations were supported through training, benchmarking, and leadership development to reinforce local ownership.
The Community Development Program also facilitated the turnover of selected initiatives, such as the Global Peace Community Farm in Davao del Norte, to community-based associations, marking a transition toward full local management.
Development and Service in Practice
GPF Philippines’ 2025 Community Development Program demonstrates an integrated approach to development and service, linking energy access, education, governance participation, and partnership-building to support family self-reliance and community resilience. Through sustained collaboration with government, civil society, and the private sector, GPF continues to contribute to inclusive local development while reinforcing the role of communities as active partners in shaping their own progress.
As the Global Peace Foundation advances its work globally, the Philippines program reflects how locally grounded service initiatives can support broader development goals through responsible partnerships, measurable outcomes, and long-term community engagement.
Discover more about, and support GPF’s work in Development and Service.
Learn more about GPF’s work in the Philippines.
