Kick-Off Marks Start of 25 Years of Social Development Impact
Quezon City – The Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) has launched the lead-up to its 25th anniversary in 2026 with a year-long campaign celebrating a quarter-century of building partnerships and expanding opportunities for poor and marginalized communities through responsive and sustainable development initiatives.
During its kick-off event on November 26, 2025, attended by civil society leaders, young innovators, and social entrepreneurs, PEF unveiled a series of activities and initiatives to reflect on its journey, foster dialogues and skill-building on key development themes, and capture key lessons and best practices.
“Twenty-five years ago, PEF was born out of a vision: to accelerate the social agenda of the country’s development movement. What started as a groundbreaking idea soon became reality through an innovative financial mechanism, the first of its kind in our nation’s history,” PEF Chair Bishop Antonio Ledesma shared.
Since its establishment in 2001, PEF has supported over 500,000 households, worked with over 1,000 organizations, and contributed to more than 2,000 social programs and initiatives, amounting to PHP 2.5 billion in resources deployed.
Reflections on the future of development
A moderated dialogue examined the key issues shaping the civil society landscape today — including corruption, climate change, and the nurturing of a new generation of development leaders.
Political scientist Prof. Julio Teehankee presented an overview of the country’s current socio-political context, while Christine De Siree Jodloman, Executive Director of Agrea Foundation, highlighted the need to invest in young leaders who will guide the sector forward.
PEF Founder Danilo Songco emphasized that the way forward for the sector requires bold action: rethinking the role of NGOs, strategically engaging the market, and building stronger, scalable models where social mission and economic viability reinforce each other.
PEF unveils Knowledge and Innovation Challenge for Change
One of the event’s highlights was the launch of the Knowledge and Innovation Challenge for Change (KICK) — a nationwide competition and learning platform designed to surface breakthrough ideas that advance innovation, sustainability, and impact in development work.
KICK seeks to support changemakers, innovators, and community partners in developing real-world solutions and forward-looking ideas that inspire learning, replication, and action across sectors.
The year-long 25th anniversary campaign will conclude in November 2026, featuring the winners of the KICK Innovation Challenge, partners’ products, and new initiatives that will shape the next phase of PEF’s journey.