Lack of workers bug weaving industry; 4Ps poor folks tapped

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA, Mountain Province -- For lack of  weavers and  tailors of this province’s weaving industry, 4Ps  beneficiaries can be trained to fill this  labor force need,  Florence  Baguilat, provincial Social Welfare  and Development officer said during recent weavers forum  here sponsored by the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and Trade and Industry in the capital town of Bontoc.

This was in response to the concern of Ezra Bondad Aranduque, manager of pioneering Sagada Weaving who said lack of weavers confront the weaving industry in Sagada further citing that weavers come from places outside town. 

Lack of weavers and tailors and lack of capital including concerns on social benefits of workers are major issues which cropped up during the weavers forum held here at the multipurpose building June 21.

There are some around 20 private weaving firms in Mountain Province mostly based in Sagada; and municipality-based weavers’ organizations in Sabangan, Bontoc, Bauko, Besao and Sagada.  

The forum intended to respond to issues faced by weavers of Mountain Province  with the presence of representatives from concerned government agencies.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) director Gabriel Cayacay said trainings are available on weaving, sewing, and other skills such as baking and beauty care. Cayacay encouraged those who are interested to “submit their proposal”.

DTI Mountain Province director Juliet Lucas said DTI provides trainings on weaving, sewing, bookkeeping and other related business skills.

Rose Ann Wangdali who heads Montanosa Weavers Association said she conducts trainings for interested weavers. She further forwarded that government support including trainings instead be channeled to private weaving enterprises.

Although  this  drew sharp protest from supporters of weavers  associations and other government  representatives including Land Bank  officer  Genaro Dumpayan  who said that weavers organization as the Sabangan Weavers are faring  well enough.

Lucas said DTI considers both peoples organizations and private entrepreneur firms  in the private sector.

Capital is one issue forwarded by participant weavers.  Dumpayan said Land Bank offers loans at reasonable interest rates.

The Social Security System (SSS) also provides loans to its respective members.

Dora Challongen Provincial Local Government Unit- Cooperative Development Officer said the Province provide loans to groups. This apart from the Barangay Development Assistance Program of the Provincial LGU aimed to primarily provide capital assistance to barangay-based small scale entrepreneur groups.

A  P2 million livelihood assistance approved by then Gov. Leonard Mayaen was coursed to the Livelihood component of the CDO for its management pending guidelines of how the fund shall be used; it was learned during said weavers’ forum.

Equipment is provided by the Dept. of Science and Technology to requesting groups as grant and loans at zero interest rates to individual entrepreneurs.

The Dept. of Labor and Employment also provides assistance in forms of soft materials like thread for weaving or hard equipment including looms and coffee roasters to people’s entrepreneur organizations.

While this is the case, weaver firms were especially advised to provide Philhealth and Social Security System (SSS) benefits to their workers. Payment of SSS and Philhealth benefits are concerns by some weavers here in Sagada where most private weaving firms are found.

Asked if the weaver shall be benefitted even if she/he only worked for a month, Philhealth Officer Jose Safawil said one who worked for a month was able to contribute for the gain of the industry thus entitled to Philhealth benefits. And so similar to SSS benefits.

Weaving is basically a traditional practice being done by women in their spare time when there is no work in the fields.

Now, weaving is taken as a regular source of livelihood where some work as piece rate workers while some are paid as regular employees.

Speaker Graal Cawed, manager of Topskill Weaving inspired weaver enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals who attended said event saying “love your work, believe in yourself and follow your dreams”.

Cawed urged weavers to go experimental in their designs such as thin weaving apart from the thick weaving Mountain Province weavers are accustomed to.

In the same event, DTI Director Lucas talked on e-commerce where it is now the trend in marketing products.

The weaving industry looks optimistic  with marketing opportunities such as tokens for  guests who come to the Province for business purposes, community festivals, trade fairs, and office uniforms.

In said event, RA 9178 or Barangay Microfinance Business Enterprise (BMBE) program was imparted. BMBE  allows businesses with assets worth less than 3 million pesos to be exempted from paying income tax.

The Promotion of Green Economic Development (ProGED) as a program was shared  by DTI  staff Jones Malwaggay who said that waste materials from weaving can be recycled into good use and contribute to preventing climate change.

The ProGED project is a joint undertaking of  DTI  and Industry-Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The three-year project, which began in January 2013, aims to enhance the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by helping them adopt  environmental friendly strategies taking note of business' value chain.