AS a housewife, 28-year old Deonila Sayco plans her family’s daily fare by depending on her husband’s daily take-home pay as a farm laborer.
Deonila’s neighbor, Nora Dagendil, has seven children. She too, admits that as a mother, she has to make a tight budget out of the skimpy income her husband earns, just enough to feed nine mouths, three times a day.
But today, Deonila and Nora no longer live impoverish lives. Both of them and 23 other women in their village established the Diplo Women’s Association (DWA).
For their livelihood, DWA initiated a camote bar production with funding from the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) and under the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD).
With the help of Punong Barangay Jimmy Ampong and wife, Letecia, who is also the president of the organization, DWA was able to utilize a space in the barangay facility for their camote making project as well as the vehicle used in the distribution of their product.
Last January, the MRDP-CFAD granted DWA with a start-up capital of P150,000. Letecia said they only used P70,000 for their initial production and deposited the rest of the money for future ventures.
At present, DWA’s camote bars are sold in Poblacion Kumalarang and in nearby municipalities in the province and in Zamboanga Sibugay, earning about P8,000 in profits, said treasurer Lolita Bombio.
The proceeds are then divided among the members of DWA. This is how Deonila and Nora each receive their P300 share every week.
“These days, I can now buy rice, fish and other needs of my children like slippers and school supplies,” beams Deonila.
“I am very happy that I joined this association because this helped a lot in our daily needs,” Nora seconded.
REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, DA-9
Deonila’s neighbor, Nora Dagendil, has seven children. She too, admits that as a mother, she has to make a tight budget out of the skimpy income her husband earns, just enough to feed nine mouths, three times a day.
But today, Deonila and Nora no longer live impoverish lives. Both of them and 23 other women in their village established the Diplo Women’s Association (DWA).
For their livelihood, DWA initiated a camote bar production with funding from the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) and under the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD).
With the help of Punong Barangay Jimmy Ampong and wife, Letecia, who is also the president of the organization, DWA was able to utilize a space in the barangay facility for their camote making project as well as the vehicle used in the distribution of their product.
Last January, the MRDP-CFAD granted DWA with a start-up capital of P150,000. Letecia said they only used P70,000 for their initial production and deposited the rest of the money for future ventures.
At present, DWA’s camote bars are sold in Poblacion Kumalarang and in nearby municipalities in the province and in Zamboanga Sibugay, earning about P8,000 in profits, said treasurer Lolita Bombio.
The proceeds are then divided among the members of DWA. This is how Deonila and Nora each receive their P300 share every week.
“These days, I can now buy rice, fish and other needs of my children like slippers and school supplies,” beams Deonila.
“I am very happy that I joined this association because this helped a lot in our daily needs,” Nora seconded.
REPORT BY REMAI ALEJADO, DA-9