Daraga grants livelihood fund to women’s group

LIVELIHOOD AID. Sonia Maraño, KALIPI federation president for Daraga, Albay, receives the P500,000 check as business capitalization assistance from Mayor Victor Perete (center) after the flag-raising ceremony on Monday (Jan. 6, 2019). (Photo by Mike Dela Rama)

DARAGA, Albay -- The municipal government here handed over P500,000 to the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI) organization on Monday, January 6, to boost the livelihood capitalization of its 1,620 members who are town residents.

Mayor Victor Perete turned over the P500,000 check to Sonia Maraño, KALIPI federation president, after the first flag ceremony of the new year at the grounds of the Daraga municipal hall.

Daraga’s Social Welfare officer Emma Lindio said the beneficiaries from 54 barangays will be given capitalization to produce various local products.

“Their products will be showcased at the Pasalubong Center located at the front yard of the municipal hall, which include non-food items, processed foods, supplies or equipment for massage and other servers,” she said.

Lindio said this is the first time the women’s organization received financial support, which they could use as capital for their business.

“We can expect homemade longanisa, processed foods, ginger tea, dried chilli (labuyo), dried laing (taro) leaves, and other indigenous products,” she added.

KALIPI is a national women’s organization that aims to strengthen and institutionalize national and local programs.

Perete called on KALIPI members to encourage more women to join the organization so they could learn how to maximize the local resources. “We empower our women to improve their lives and we fully support their program. This is how we recognize their contributions for economic development and promote women empowerment,” he said.

The local government of Daraga also provided technical support and financial assistance to small businesses with potential to improve their local products.

“Our goal is to produce more non-food products from this municipality like handicrafts and seek support from Daragueños living abroad to help our ‘kababayan’ in marketing these products,” the mayor added.

Aside from showcasing local products, Perete also said the local government will introduce a program that will combine the promotion of agriculture and tourism. He said the town needs to create market and jobs through agri-tourism. (PNA)