Go to the people
Live among them
Plan with them
Start with what they know
Build on what they have
Teach by showing
Learn by doing
Not a showcase but a pattern
Not odds or ends but a system
Not piecemeal but an integrated approach
Not to conform but to transform
Not relief but release
The Credo of rural reconstruction spells out the philosophy, approach, and lifestyle guiding every PRRM worker who is trained to live, dream, plan, work with the people.
PRRM has followed this Credo for almost 50 years in its effort to change and build the countryside, and to strengthen the civic infrastructure of Philippine Society.
ABOUT PRRM
PRRM was founded in 1952 by Dr. Y.C. James Yen, supported by a small group of prominent Filipinos led by Dean Conrado Benitez of the University of the Philippines. The roots of PRRM are traced to China where, in the early 1900s, the rural reconstruction movement was born, inspired and led by Dr. Yen.
In the 1950s to the 1960s, PRRM's rural reconstruction workers went to the countryside to assist rural communities around a four-fold approach of: Education to combat ignorance, Livelihood to fight poverty, Health to fight disease, and Self-governance to combat civic inertia.
After a decline in operations during the Marcos years, PRRM was revitalized in 1986 by a team led by former dissident Horacio R. Morales Jr.. Enhancing the four-fold approach with an additional emphasis on environmental sustainability, PRRM since then has expanded operations to 20 provinces, and is an active civil society participant at the local, national and global arenas.
In 1999, Mr. Morales joined the Philippine Cabinet and Congressman Wigberto E. Taņada was chosen by the Board to take over the presidency. Mr. Taņada's presidency stands for a continuity of institutional directions while being dynamic in the face of a rapidly changing development environment.
PRRM's Board of Trustees is composed of respected professionals in various fields, headed by one of the Philippines' pioneer legislators, former Senator Helena Z. Benitez. PRRM has a multi-disciplinary workforce of 300 men and women.
VISION
PRRM envisions a society of equity and sustainability. The future is one where ignorance, poverty, disease and powerlessness shall have been eradicated and development takes place within the environment's carrying capacity.
MISSION
To strengthen the capacity of local communities in self-government, management of habitat and in influencing public policy through the four fold approach (education, livelihood, health and self government) and natural resource management
