Crafts and Skills of IPs, Women in NegOcc Town Boosted
A non-government organization is pushing for the improvement of craftsmanship and culinary skills of indigenous peoples (IPs) and women groups in Binalbagan, Negros Occidental.
PeacePond Farmers Association (PFA) vice president Checcs Osmeña-Orbida said they are advocating for sustainable development and social enterprising among these marginalized sectors.
PFA is part of the IP Support Group that launched the “Showcase of Purely Binalbaganon Products” at the town’s Veteran Heroes Park last Thursday.
Hidden gem in the Visayas
According to Osmeña-Orbida, the activity aims to put the spotlight on the Alayon IP Crafts and Dagyaw Food Services Group, which are products of different development interventions provided by the PFA and the local government.
Alayon IP Crafts is the brand given to handicrafts and other products made by members of Ituman-Magahat-Bukidnon, a group of eight IP associations that comprise the Federation of Indigenous Peoples Associations in Binalbagan.
Osmeña-Orbida said they discovered that the IPs are skilled in weaving abaca and pandan, but lacking in product development ideas. That is why PFA conducted workshops on social enterprise, product development, and financial management last year — which led to the brand of pandan and abaca-made crafts.
Meanwhile, Dagyaw Food Services Group is made up of women groups with members consisting of housewives, fisherfolk, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who have undergone training on basic catering services and customer relations.
