Anilao bag makers get P150T DSWD grant
The Department of Social Welfare and Development has granted P150,000 worth of livelihood assistance to a women’s association in Anilao, Iloilo.
Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman turned over the grant to the Anileña’s Bags For Life Association through Mayor Ma. Theresa Debuque.
Soliman said the grant will serve as added capital to the women’s group in producing bags made of recycled papers.
This is DSWD’s way of helping the community sustain a growing livelihood and provide additional income to their family, she said.
Debuque said the bags produced by the group are from newspapers, old telephone directories, and magazines.
She said the bag-making industry aims to alleviate the livelihood problem of women in her town.
Part of the proceeds from the sale of the bags goes to the scholarship of deserving children in Anilao.
Leome Siason, a mother of three and one of the women working in the association, said bag-making helps her send her children to school.
Her family’s income also increased since she started working with the group last year.
Nelda Atonducan, president of Anileña’s Bags For Life Association, said the women are trained on how to make the bags for at least a week.
They are then provided with materials to make bags.
She said the group is keen on maintaining the quality of their products especially now that they have several patrons and bulk buyers.
Bag prices range from P300 to P500 or higher depending on the design and sizes. They join product fairs held in various malls to sell their bags.
They have also sold their bags in several malls and department stores and have found buyers from other regions and countries.
Soliman herself bought several bags that she will give to the congressional spouses as a way to promote the products as a fashionable and useful item.
She said these pro-environment products should be fully supported.
For product inquiry and bulk buying, the Anileña’s Bags For Life Association can be contacted through the office of Anilao Mayor Ma. Theresa Debuque.* PNA
