CAMALIG, ALBAY – About 20 women evacuees had undergone Training on Basic Sewing and Upcycling at LGU Camalig Training Center, Camalig, Albay on August 08-11, 2023.

As part of DA Bicol’s commitment during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Albay Province last June 14, 2023 to provide livelihood training and opportunities with provision of starter kit for families affected by Mayon Volcano’s unrest, the DA Bicol thru its Gender and Development (GAD) Office in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Camalig has conducted this 4-day training.

The Local Chief Executive of Camalig, Hon. Carlos Irwin G. Baldo, Jr. encouraged the women evacuees to actively participate in the training for them to learn the techniques of sewing and upcycling of used denims/clothing like those from “Ukay-ukay” to bags, table cloth and others. Likewise, earn additional income and become a successful entrepreneur someday. He added that once they become an entrepreneur, they should always learn the value of commitment in producing quality products and service to satisfy their client’s demand.

Karen V. Bolaños, Product Development Coordinator and Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officer (LEDIPO) of LGU Camalig expressed her gratitude to DA Bicol in coming up with this training. She added that the training was part of the LGU early recovery plan. Bolaños is looking forward for the trainees to contribute in intensifying product development to boost the tourism industry of the municipality.

Aloha Gigi I. Bañaria, DA Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) Chief and GAD Focal Person shared that the training aims to provide a livelihood opportunity and develop the women’s creativity and entrepreneurial capabilities. As part of her discussion on Women Resiliency, she encouraged the participants to remain optimistic despite life’s challenges. She hopes that by providing this training, the women evacuees would have something to work with and will be able to earn extra income while in the evacuation center and even they return to their respective areas.

RAFC Bicol Chairperson and renowned social agri-entreprenuer, Bernadette “Bidi-Bidi” De los Santos served as one of the resource persons who brought both techniques and inspiration to women evacuees. De los Santos is willing to serve as market outlet and committed to buy the finished product of these women evacuees. Through the help of LGU Camalig, she is hoping to also provide trainings on embroidery and crochet making to sustain their livelihood.

“Kagaya niyo po, nag-umpisa rin ako sa maliit”. By doing small things in a great way, BidiBidi emphasized that it is important to be passionate and to always put your heart into everything that you do in order to be successful in life.

Aside from sewing kit and upcycled materials provided by DA Bicol, Annielen Panerio, the General Manager of Camarines Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Chairperson of RAFC Bicol Rice Sectoral Committee has also sent some sanitation kits to the women evacuees.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako ng marami sa Department of Agriculture sa training na ibinigay sa aming mga evacuees at sa LGU Camalig Albay through Mayor Baldo na patuloy pong tumutulong sa amin”, Myra N. Olgina, women-youth evacuee uttered. (Jessa Mae Siano – PMED)

More women evacuees participate in livelihood trainings

CAMALIG, ALBAY – About 20 women evacuees had undergone Training on Basic Sewing and Upcycling at LGU Camalig Training Center, Camalig, Albay on August 08-11, 2023.

As part of DA Bicol’s commitment during the visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Albay Province last June 14, 2023 to provide livelihood training and opportunities with provision of starter kit for families affected by Mayon Volcano’s unrest, the DA Bicol thru its Gender and Development (GAD) Office in coordination with the Local Government Unit of Camalig has conducted this 4-day training.

The Local Chief Executive of Camalig, Hon. Carlos Irwin G. Baldo, Jr. encouraged the women evacuees to actively participate in the training for them to learn the techniques of sewing and upcycling of used denims/clothing like those from “Ukay-ukay” to bags, table cloth and others. Likewise, earn additional income and become a successful entrepreneur someday. He added that once they become an entrepreneur, they should always learn the value of commitment in producing quality products and service to satisfy their client’s demand.

Karen V. Bolaños, Product Development Coordinator and Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officer (LEDIPO) of LGU Camalig expressed her gratitude to DA Bicol in coming up with this training. She added that the training was part of the LGU early recovery plan. Bolaños is looking forward for the trainees to contribute in intensifying product development to boost the tourism industry of the municipality.

Aloha Gigi I. Bañaria, DA Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) Chief and GAD Focal Person shared that the training aims to provide a livelihood opportunity and develop the women’s creativity and entrepreneurial capabilities. As part of her discussion on Women Resiliency, she encouraged the participants to remain optimistic despite life’s challenges. She hopes that by providing this training, the women evacuees would have something to work with and will be able to earn extra income while in the evacuation center and even they return to their respective areas.

RAFC Bicol Chairperson and renowned social agri-entreprenuer, Bernadette “Bidi-Bidi” De los Santos served as one of the resource persons who brought both techniques and inspiration to women evacuees. De los Santos is willing to serve as market outlet and committed to buy the finished product of these women evacuees. Through the help of LGU Camalig, she is hoping to also provide trainings on embroidery and crochet making to sustain their livelihood.

“Kagaya niyo po, nag-umpisa rin ako sa maliit”. By doing small things in a great way, BidiBidi emphasized that it is important to be passionate and to always put your heart into everything that you do in order to be successful in life.

Aside from sewing kit and upcycled materials provided by DA Bicol, Annielen Panerio, the General Manager of Camarines Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative and Chairperson of RAFC Bicol Rice Sectoral Committee has also sent some sanitation kits to the women evacuees.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako ng marami sa Department of Agriculture sa training na ibinigay sa aming mga evacuees at sa LGU Camalig Albay through Mayor Baldo na patuloy pong tumutulong sa amin”, Myra N. Olgina, women-youth evacuee uttered. (Jessa Mae Siano – PMED)