Baguio City– The Department of Science and Technology – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR) together with partners from the public and private sectors, underscored the significance of improved economic empowerment of Women Micro Entrepreneurs (WME) and their workers through the Gender Responsive Economic Actions for the Transformation of Women (GREAT Women Project 2). Specifically, this was held during the Regional WME Assembly held on-site at the Venus Parkview Hotel and webcast live via Zoom on March 4, 2021.
“Be counted as contributors to our regional development in the best way you can as empowered, enlightened and beautiful women inside and out,” DOST-CAR Regional Director Nancy Bantog said in her message during the event, which saw one hundred eight (108) participants from WMEs across the region.
Building on GWP1’s success, the GWP2, also otherwise known as Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Philippines, was developed to improve sustainability, productivity, and competitiveness of women’s micro-enterprises and to continue enhancing the enabling environment for economic empowerment of women.
The project, which covers coffee and the home style and wearables (H&W) sectors in the Cordilleras, is spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-CAR, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-CAR, and Department of Agriculture (DA)-CAR and is funded by the Government of Canada. Currently, there are 32 WMEs from the coffee sector and 41 WMEs in the H&W sector under the project.
Key government officials from the said agencies held a series of panel discussions on the status and accomplishments, and ways forward of the coffee and H&W industries in the region in light of the COVID-19 pandemic while Tuba Benguet Coffee Growers Association and Montañosa Weavers Association shared their insights and experiences on their journey as businesses under the GWP2. Notable speakers included PCW Chairperson Sandra Montano, PCW Executive Director Atty. Kristine Rosary Yuzon-Chavez, ECHOsi Foundation President Pacita Juan, Baguio Arts and Creatives Collections Inc. President Adelaida Lim and FreshBuys PH co-owner Angelo Valdez.
Under this project, coffee farmers and weavers of various associations in the provinces of Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province are assisted to improve their productivity and competitiveness. Further, WMEs are encouraged to pursue environment-friendly practices and adapt digitalization for the sustainability of their businesses.** Christian Robert Sandoval
