The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur through the CamSur Employment Center awarded two units of high-speed sewing machines to two organizations in Buhi, Camarines Sur on January 21, 2022. The Women, Solo Parents and PWD organizations of Barangays San Jose Salay and San Isidro were the recipients of the new high-speed sewing machines.
According to Rowena Flores, Federation President of the Women, Solo Parents and PWD organization of Brgy. San Jose Salay, “Last year po, nag-meeting po kami sa federation kasi gusto namin magkaroon ng livelihood ngayong panahon ng pandemya kasi marami po sa mga parent ng aking members ay nawalan ng trabaho o pagkakakitaan. Kaya nag come up kami into decision na magkaroon ng livelihood which is sako bag. Wala kaming puhunan, nag-decide kami na humingi ng tulong kay Gov. Migz Villafuerte.”
Through Governor Migz’ immediate action on their request for their livelihood project, the organization now has an income-generating livelihood project on sako bag creation with the help of the sewing machine that was granted to them. Since many of the mothers whose children were part of their organization are tailors and seamstress, the sewing machine for them is a blessing that will allow their livelihood project to grow and to flourish.
“Napakalaking tulong po nito sa amin dahil marami din po akong members na nanay na marunong manahi. Kaya lang dahil kulang kami sa kagamitan at sa pang bili ang federation. Malaki po ang matutulong nito dahil kapag na materialize na yung aming sako bag making, mag-gegenerate siya ng income because of the sewing machine. Kaya itong sewing machine, sobrang malaking tulong dahil makakagawa na kami ng sako bag, na pinangarap namin para sa kabuhayan namin. Ito yung first time na magkakaroon kami dito ng livelihood at yung income po nito pwede namin i-spread out sa mga myembro kasi karamihan po sa members ko, mga maliliit pa eh so kailangan talaga nila ng assistensya,” Flores added.
Roselyn Rafols is a mother whose child has mental disabilities due to viral encephalitis. Raising her child with such condition has not been easy. As a member of the organization in Brgy. San Jose Salay, she was delighted that a sewing machine was provided for them. Also a seamstress herself, she found new hope with the implementation of this livelihood project.
“Kadakulang tabang po kan si sewing machine po na naresibe kan samuyang federation kasi unang-una si mga kaipuhan magpatahi, kami na sana po an mag gibu o mga repair din bado. Since tatao man po ako mag tahi-tahi, dakulang tabang na po iyan may magagamit kami ta dae na kami mapatahi sa iba. Dakula po an samuyang pasasalamat sa gobyerno ta natatabangan po kami lalo na din ining mga PWD na mayong kakayahan na magtrabaho an kadaklan. Salamat po ta may pagkukuanan kami ning pangkabuhayan. Maraming salamat po kay Gov. Migz, kay Cong. Lray asin kay Sir Luigi Villafuerte. Salamat po,” Rafols shared.
The organization of San Isidro was also able to receive one unit of sewing machine. Although their organization is just starting up in establishing their own livelihood project and gathering fellow tailors and seamstress, the arrival of the sewing machine that they requested made it easier for them to carry out their plans for their organization.
Amelia Dizon Arcilla shared that they requested the sewing machine despite having only few members in the organization. She is grateful that they were able to have a sewing machine to use for their start-up livelihood.
“Dakulang tabang po ini ta dae na po ako magpaparapatahi sa iba na nagbabayad. Naoogma po akong arog kayan na tinawanan po kami kani ni Gov. Migz Villafuerte na willing pong maray magtabang sa mga arog kaning mga livelihood projects. Dakula po an samuyang pasasalamat na tinawanan ninyo po kami kaning sewing machine na ini. Sana dakul pa po an matabangan niya na tawo. Pagpatuloy pa po niya ini. Dakol pong pasasalamat saiya,” Arcilla noted.
Last year, five units of sewing machines were also given to Women, Solo Parents, and PWD organization of Brgy. Cabanatuan. Currently, the organization makes most of the sewing machines given to them as they continue to operate sewing different types of clothes, curtains, pillowcase, bedsheets, sofa bed cover, dresses, and even making repairs for clothes. All these sewn products helped them generate income during this pandemic.
“Naghagad po ako kan last year ki Gov. Migz nin 5 units of high speed sewing machine tapos uni na po siya ginagamit mi na po tapos ongoing na po an samuyang livelihood program. Dakulang tabang po samuya ining sewing machine na ini ta kadakol na din po kaming nahaman. Dakulang tabang po an saimong livelihood sa samuyang barangay, kadakulan sa women’s organization mi an mayong trabaho,” said Kagawad Maria Cababay of Brgy. Cabanatuan, Buhi.
Kagawad Cababay also shared that 25 people in their organization also took the Dressmaking NCII course offered through the Ka Fuerte Skills Training Program and are just waiting for their graduation.
“An mga paratahi mi po, 25 po sainda ang nagtraining kan Dressmaking sa TESDA sa paagi kan Ka Fuerte Skills Training Program tapos maray asin matibay na po sinda mag tahi kaya dakulang bagay pong maray ining skills dahil sa training asin an sewing machine na pigtao po samuya,” Cababay added.
During these trying times, as communities do their best to get back on their feet from the impacts of pandemic particularly on their livelihood, the Provincial Government continues to provide support needed by every Camarinense to recover from their losses, to uplift from poverty, and to build back better the local economy.
