Solidarity of Oppressed Filipino People (SOFP)

Formerly Damayan ng Maralitang Pilipinong Api Inc. (DAMPA), SOFP is a national federation of people’s organisations (POs) consisting of 68 member organisations that are addressing the most pressing needs of urban and rural poor communities. It was established in December 1995 in response to massive demolitions in the slums surrounding Smokey Mountain—the term coined for a large landfill once located in Tondo, Manila, which contained two million metric tons of waste. The demolitions left hundreds of urban poor families in desperate need for adequate basic services.

Throughout the decades, SOFP has served POs and provided leadership opportunities to community women, men and youth while addressing the communities’ issues and challenges brought about by poverty, gender-based violence, and climate-related disasters—including providing critical community support after the catastrophic destruction of the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in the islands of Samar and Leyte.

In 2015, SOFP also mobilised youth advocates forming a chapter of the Safe Cities Youth Theatre Action Group (#SCYTAG), and have continued the programme even after the partnership with UN WOMEN.

SiSTER Programme

Co-designed with SOFP, the Solidarity in Savings and Transformation for Empowerment and Resilience (SiSTER) Programme, forms community savings and loans associations (CSLA) and food banks in urban poor communities through a standardised and guided approach that promotes financial accountability, profitability and the empowerment of all the members.

SiSTER is now in its second phase (2026-2029), building on the pilot that improved the wellbeing of dozens of women and their families by increasing family income and savings; and increasing women’s participation in household decision-making.

From a pilot of 6 village groups that underwent the CSLA Formation Training and Grassroots Business and Entrepreneurship Skills Training (G-BEST), there are now over 100 groups across the Philippines seeking support to form their savings and loans associations and micro-enterprises. CPF and SOFP will also develop a 3rd standardised manual to strengthen women's community activism skills to address violence against women and children (VAWC) and the "growing and hidden" incidence of HIV and AIDS in the communities.