_________________________ Welcome to DISOP Philippines! ________________________

Grameen Rice-Finance
(2002) by SEKAP, Inc.

Reforestation
(1998-2002) by FCI

Sustainable Agriculture
(1998-2002) by SWCF

Rice Farmers Cooperative / Carabao Dispersal
(1998-2002) by SJP

Credit Cooperative
(2000-2002) by DLRLCDFI

Women's Handicrafts (2002) / Rice Cooperative
(1996-2001) by PBSP

Vegetable Farmers Cooperatives
(1998-2002) by AKAP

Women's Wastepickers Enterprise (2001) by JVOFI

Entrepreneurs Cooperative
(1998-2002) by MRMF-TRESP

Rice Farmers Association
(2001) by FAPBAPI

Credit Cooperative
(2002) by PMPCI

Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP)
Women's Handicrafts

Description of the PBSP project:

PBSP is implementing a one-year (2002) project called “Samal Island Handicraft Industry development Project, Samal Island, Mindanao, Philippines”.

The project aims to create alternative sources of income through the development of handicraft products by the women of Samal Island. Ten production groups were organized composed of 20 women each. The groups are members of the Council of Women of Samal that serves as the marketing arm. It undertakes product and market development by establishing market links with companies through trade fairs. The handicrafts are woven products out of Romblon, Nito and Buli such as mats and bags.

The project provides trainings in product development and skills, starting capital for production and marketing and assistance in the promotion of the handicraft products.

Testimony of Mrs. Eliza Gonzaga

Elisa Gonzaga, a member of the San Remegio production group, has been supporting her seven children on her own. If there was not work in doing some cleaning in the landowner’s farm, she used to just sit and gamble the whole day. She knows how to weave Romblon but on a very small scale for lack of capital and market outlets.

The skill trainings helped a lot especially in knowing how to design and the organization of the production group is a big motivation now to weave everyday. The Council of Women buys the products. She is the only one to earn for the family needs and this project has already helped a lot. If this continue, she is hoping that with God’s grace, she will be able to send even one of her seven children to college. In the village, children can only go up to high school.

Click here to view the previous PBSP project.