Eco Clouds and Buenas Raffias are the new rising loom weaving associations in the province of Bohol.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) open a livelihood opportunity to the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) participants in the municipality of Danao and Buenavista, Bohol.

A total of 600 program participants were given the chance to receive their loom weaving starter kits during the recent turn over ceremony in Brgy. Cabatuan, Danao and Brgy. Cambuhat, Buenavista in Bohol.

The loom weaving development program specifically in raffia yarn preparation and raffia weaving seeks to shift the economies of the communities with the desire to change their lives for the better at the same time aims to flourish the raffia industry of Danao and Buenavista.

The Danao Raffia Processor SLP Association also known as the Eco Clouds with 300 program participants received the 51 units of 2-harness upright metal reed handlooms, 249 sets of dyeing and raw material preparation paraphernalia which include plastic drums, plastic dipper, big steel kettle, knife, sharpening stone, weighing scale, glacial acetic acid, colored dye and steel comb.

These participants were from barangay Taming, Tabok, Sta. Fe, Magtangtang, Cabatuan and Hibale. All of them had undergone 19 various trainings in loom weaving including the Organizational, Productivity and Entrepreneurial trainings initiated by the DTI.

The Buenas Raffias SLP Association in the municipality of Buenavista with 300 program participants also received the 61 units of 2-harness upright metal reed handlooms 239 sets of dyeing and raw material preparation paraphernalia, the same with Danao starter kits.

These participants were from Barangay Panghagban, Cambuhat, Lapacan Norte, Lapacan Sur, Magkaya and Cantuba. The same with the participants from Danao, they also have undergone at least 20 various trainings.

“Nalipay kaayo ko sa akong nakitang kalambuan. Tinood gyud na ang giingon nga ang pagpadagan sa usa ka proyekto kung adunay pagtinabangay matulin gyud (I am ecstatic about the the livelihood project in the municipality. Indeed, if there is unity, the project will be realized),” said Asteria Caberte, DTI 7 regional director.

Both municipalities have undertaken the Product Development and Label Assistance trainings, small business consultations, networking and resource mobilization and local study missions. They got their marketing support through trade fair participations.

The DSWD and DTI are in one goal of improving the socio-economic capacity of the participants through micro-enterprise development and employment facilitation activities. This endeavor is supported with the local government of Danao and Buenavista, Bohol.

“Normal sa usa ka asosasyon nga adunay bingkil, apan nanghinaot mi nga dili ninyo usikan unsa ang gihatag sa DSWD ug DTI kaninyo aron kamo makabaton og kalampusan sa inyong umaabot nga negosyo (It is normal to encounter bickering in an association but we are hopeful that what the DSWD and DTI have given you will not be wasted for the success of your business),” said Shalaine Marie Lucero, DSWD 7 Asst. Regional Director for Operations (ARDO). ###

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