Western Samar Development Foundation (WESADEF), Inc.

The Western Samar Development Foundation, Inc. (WESADEF) is a non-stock, non-profit social development Foundation organized in May 2, 1987. Members of the Foundation are professionals representing the several sectors of the society who have bonded together to pursue a common vision for the development of Samar in general and Calbayog City in particular. Specifically, the Foundation desires to help ameliorate the socio-economic & environment conditions of the poverty groups in the area.

The management of WESADEF is vested on its Executive Committee that received mandate from the Board of Trustees (BOT). Officers of both bodies are being elected every three years by a set of incorporators. To date, the Executive Committee is headed by Dr. Bella de los Reyes and the BOT is being chaired by Dr. Socorro O. Bohol. The operation’s management is led by Ma. Emma Tan-Elardo, the Foundation’s new Executive Director since year 2006.

WESADEF’s acclaim in managing community livelihood projects, capability building efforts and awareness raising activities has been given a boost in 1994 when the Foundation was judged Grand Prize Winner by the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) in its Third Annual SIKAP Award – a national selection of NGOs whose projects have created much impact on community development and just lately as Most Outstanding NGO – Order of the Fighting Cock Award by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Progressive Alliance of Citizens for Democracy (PACD). Locally, collaborative efforts were established with the Local Government Units, National Agencies, other NGOs and Community-Based Organizations. This coordinative efforts has resulted in the sharing of resources whereby livelihood fund, housing, health, enterprise and community development services has been established.