The Ledesma family initially felt opportunity to expand the sugar industry, the main source of income in the island and top dollar earner for the country.

They wanted to pursue research and development to help push the sugar industry in new horizons and greater heights.

1974

Julio & Florentina Ledesma Foundation, Inc. was born to address the much-needed research and development needs of the Sugar Industry in the East Negros area.

It was a time of largeness and plenty. Sugar was sweet and the foundations objectives were to further the “economic” gains of the industry.

1985

The big crash in the world market came as the ensuing sugar monopoly was extremely mismanaged. Thus, resulted in the collapse of the industry that brought social oppression and turmoil.

The target was to help alleviate a lot of affected folks through community development and the delivery of basic services. Hunger and poverty stalked homes and nutrition among children soared to unprecedented records. Efforts were focus to address the urgency of the situation.



The foundation then realized that crisis situation can be transformed into occasion of opportunities and realigned priorities.

Thus, the crusade to people empowerment began. The Foundation shifted its focus from a purely economic to a socio-economic development agenda.

Now, for more than three decades…

The foundation stands with the prestige anchored towards the vision of service and development to the community.



Recounting its milestones, JFLFI attributes its purpose to its community partners

• Subsistence Fishermen
• Marginal Farmers/Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs)
• Upland Farmers
• Urban Poor
• Displaced Sugar Workers
• Indigent Children
• Unemployed & Underemployed Professionals
• Women’s Group
• Rural Poor
• Unemployed Youth