February 15, 2023. The concept is to assist the locals in each village by producing goods out of the raw materials available in the community, which can result to potential source of income helpful for their families.
Since November 2022, 510 individuals (85% of those were women) from 18 barangays across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have undergone trainings on various enterprises through the support of the project SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Intervention in Support to Bangsamoro Transition.
In Brgy. Balakayon, Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, SGA-BARMM, Fatima, who is leading the group happily reported that they have already initial savings from producing and selling banana products after the training in November 2023.
Women in Brgy. Tumbras, Midsayap, Nort Cotabato, SGA-BARMM is producing various goods from freshwater fish abundant in their community being near by the marsh.
In Brgy. Looy, South Upi, Maguindanao, indigenous people (IP) group have already worked for land preparation for their vegetable production. Seedlings will be ready for planting after twenty days.
Group in Brgy. Mataya, Buldon, Maguindanao worked together in making herbal soaps out of plants available in their village.
Groups in two villages in Tawi-Tawi completed trainings on native delicacy production on February 6-12, 2023.
“We are grateful that despite the distance, we received this support from this project wherein we will be able to help our husband provide for our family. This assistance does not end here today, it will remain significant for us, forever that is why we are very thankful”, one woman from Tawi-Tawi said.
Two villages in Sulu learned about coconut processing. In Basilan, cassava processing and banana processing.
Women group in Lanao areas opted to improve their learning on palapa (a local spicy condiment common among M’ranao) processing.
Trainers to the said various trainings were service providers accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development of the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (TESD-MBHTE-BARMM), to whom the BDA Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in October 2022.
Part of the support provided during the training were complete package of supplies and equipment per enterprise group that served as start-up capital towards sustainability.
BDA Inc. is currently coordinating with BARMM ministries for further assistance to these POs like registration, business training, organization development, among others.
The project is also looking forward for a product expo of the produced goods of these women groups during the planned donors’ forum by first week of March 2023.
SUBATRA-ECSO is funded by the European Union (EU) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
