Situation
Statement of Need
Datu Paglas, is a small, agriculture-based municipality located in Maguindanao Province, in the southern Island of Mindanao, Philippines. It has an estimated mid-year population of 30,000 people, majority of which are Muslim Filipinos. 90% of the population are farmers/land tillers, the main agricultural produce is banana. The remaining estimated 10% are unemployed.
Due to the prevalent poverty of the population, the health professions are not motivated to stay and make a living out of their professions. So there are no doctors, dentists or nurses. For almost all health care needs, the people have to travel about 10 kilometers to see a doctor, that is if they can afford it at the time of need. The only time health professionals come to Datu Paglas is during free medical missions done by local organizations. Even these are not regular, and only invite the attitude of dependency among the people. The residents realize the need to participate in their own health care, beginning with the construction of their health facility.
If a health facility can be constructed, the Datu Paglas Group of Companies can seek National and Local Government Unit resources allocation for at least a Nurse or Midwife to manage the facility. A rural physician may be arranged to schedule hours of consultations.
Actual ocular visits and survey were conducted in July 2005 and February 2006 by Dr. Anacleto B. Millendez, CEO of ABM International Consultancy and founder of the Beautiful Heart Foundation, inc. Initial arrangements were explored for the possibility of joint and collaborative planning, logistics pooling and successful implementation of the Project with Datu Ibrahim Pendatun Paglas III, President of the Datu Paglas Group of Companies.

La Frutera, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao
Former Senator Anna Dominque Coseteng invited Dr. Anacleto B. Millendez and his children to visit La Frutera in Datu Paglas, Maguindanao where they met Bai Nora Paglas, resident manager of the company. A preliminary talk was initiated as to the need of a healthcare facility in the municipality of Datu Paglas. With them is Davao-based businesswoman, Ms. Rina Lagang and host supervisor of the quality control of the banana plantation.