Sooc GK women earn from trash
To some women in Sooc, Arevalo, Iloilo City, there is indeed money in trash after they were given an opportunity to earn out of the used tarpaulins which could have gone to waste.
Eleven women residents of the PLDT-Smart Amazing Gawad Kalinga Village in Sooc are now actively involved in recycling used tarpaulins into colorful bags, envelopes and other cases, a Philippine Information Agency report said.
These women are recipients of trainings related to bag making organized by Smart Communications, Inc. as part of its tarpaulin recycling project in the community to augment the resident’s income.
“We are grateful for the project because we were given the chance to make a living in a decent way,” Hermina Pineda, vice president of GK Sooc Kapitbahayan Team, said.
Pineda’s family, who used to live in the Calajunan dumpsite, is now one of the 68 poorest families in the city that reside in the village. Her family then earned their living through scavenging.
“Some of the beneficiaries have already enrolled their children to school through their earnings from the tarpaulin bags,” Pineda added.
Women beneficiaries earn as much as P35 per bag from the used tarpaulins donated by Smart.
Ella Gelvero, Couple of Christ’s caretaker in the village, said the project is a big help to the women in the village especially those whose husbands have no work, saying “Nakabulig gid ang project sa ila bisan sa galastuhon nila sa adlaw-adlaw kay wala man sila income”.
The finished products of the women such as tote bags, backpacks, travelling bags, and grocery bags are on display in one of the model houses in the village which they use as their center. However, due to limited space some women bring the materials to their homes to work on them. Their first client was Smart which ordered from them 1,200 pieces of bags.
To sustain the livelihood initiative, Gelvero encouraged other organizations and individuals to support the project, particularly in helping market the product, so that the women can get more orders for their products.
“This will also give more opportunities to other members in the community to earn and support their families,” Gelvero said.
