PPP-H sa Tondo
 05 June 2008

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For the second time this year, our Pulong Pulong Pangkabuhayan goes back to Tondo, this time to cover Barangays 101, 105, 106, 110, 116 and 128, mostly in the immediate environs of the Smokey Mountain.

During the Cabinet outreach going into the solemnities of Holy Week this year, we conducted our first Pulong Pulong, also in Tondo.

Since then, the HATAW or Harnessing Appropriate Technologies to Assist Women, which was mandated by the President in March on International Women’s Day, was added to the program.

PPP-Hataw has the following objectives: To disseminate information on government’s existing livelihood programs and microfinance lending facilities which provide low interest rates and uncollateralized loans; encourage households in DSWD-identified poorest of the poor barangays in the country to engage in microenterprises; and, bring the preliminary services leading towards availment of microfinance credit and assistance right to the beneficiaries.

For the Pulong Pulong tomorrow, we will do more than just show the "how to" of micro enterprise.

We have invited the KILUS Foundation headed by Ms. Editha Santiago, the group from Ugong, Pasig that has turned garbage into gold, quite literally.

KILUS is Kababaihang Iisa ang Layunin: Umunlad ang Sambayanan, an aspiration that this group has put into serious action. Originally known as Samahan ng Kababaihan ng Ugong, KILUS has converted Zesto, Hi-C, Plus, Jungle Juice, and other tetra packs into elegant and stylish handbags, purse, slippers, cellphone holders, and other fancy items.

For them, there is "pera sa basura," with their products reaching and catching favorable attention and reviews in the international markets.

Before the formal forum, KILUS will conduct demonstrations in the production of bags, sandals, place mats, hats and other items from recycled materials.

People in Tondo don’t even have to look as far as Pasig, for they can also take an MFI lesson from their neighbor in Moriones, Ms. Erlinda Sumabat. With an initial loan of P3,000 from Uplift Philippines, Ms. Sumabat has graduated from hog retailer to lechon wholesaler. After 21 loan cycles, she has also invested in two jeepneys, one for passenger and another for her personal use.

For the PPP-H tomorrow, we will have a panel of resource persons from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which manages the SEA-K program; People’s Credit and Finance Corporation for microfinance; Department of Labor and Employment, Technology Resource Center, and TESDA, with their compendium of training programs; Cooperatives Development Authority for organizing and accrediting coops, and, the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship, as our private sector partner.

As many as 300 participants, mostly housewives and women have been identified by DSWD.

Rep. Benjamin Asilo and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim are also expected to attend.

The Tondo PPP-H will roughly cover the same ground and services we will feature and offer at the Sentro K3 exhibits at the Luneta grounds on Independence Day. All agencies will be there. Frontline services will be provided.

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