Donsol, Sorsogon-- Fifty rural women from all over the region together with the Department of Agriculture’s Lady Employees Association (DALEA) officers and members attended the Women’s Day Celebration held recently at Amor Beach Resort in Donsol, Sorsogon. The celebration’s theme was “Babae, yaman ka ng Bayan”. The annual celebration of women’s day recognizes the significant contribution of women to society, culture, business and politics.
RTD for Operations and Regulatory Marilyn V. Sta Catalina underscored the important role of women in the family and in the community. She said that more and more women are working mothers but despite their multiple tasks they could still manage to perform both roles.
She also congratulated the RIC members and coordinators for influencing and continuously sharing their talents, skills, and knowledge to rural women, saying “they are important resource who can contribute in alleviating poverty as they are potent forces that helps rural women engage in livelihood projects.”
Finally, she said that it pays to be economically empowered and it is a must for women to know their rights. She challenged the women to be vigilant and continue to be “women of substance”.
Meanwhile, Sorsogon Board Member Hon. Cherry Diaz who represented Governor Sally Lee during the opening program, emphasized that with the present global financial crisis, women resources need to be tapped to create a gender responsive environment and at the same time to encourage them to venture into livelihood projects or small and medium enterprises.
She cited RA 9178 an act to promote the establishment of Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) that would encourage rural women to engage in livelihood projects. Diaz said that this economic opportunity would spur organized women group to engage in small and medium enterprises as they are exempted from income tax and they will have easy access to credit facilities.
“Microfinancing and lending windows are currently available and waiting to be tapped by organized women groups,“ she reported.
Diaz added that in line with the BMBE the LGU of Sorsogon is currently providing livelihood assistance to organized women groups in every municipality to give women an opportunity to start a small business and be economically empowered.
She ended her message with “Kababaihan kapag binigyan ng pagkakataon na magnegosyo kaya nila itong palaguin at pagyamamanin.”
One of the highlights of the celebration is the distribution of livelihood checks to RICs under the LEAD Buklod Yaman Project roll over scheme of the province of Sorsogon. The RIC of Milagrosa Castilla Sorsogon received Ps 15,000 livelihood check for rice cake making project and the Lago RIC of Barcelona Ps 15,000 for banana chips making. Meanwhile, the RIC of Iriga City also received Ps 10,000 for their pili tart making project funded under the Women’s Livelihood Assistance Project (WLAP).
During the event, successful women entrepreneurs who were recognized delivered lectured. Among them was Ms. Bernadette de los Santos, owner of La Huerta Farm and 2nd price winner National Search for Most Outstanding Rural women of 2008. De los Santos spoke about Entrepreneurship Rural Woman Style. Another woman entrepreneur was Ms. Melinda Yee, proprietor of Lesli Pili products Sorsogon City who lectured on Entrepreneurship Working Woman Style. Ms. Annielen L. Panerio, the manager of Capitol Multipurpose cooperative, meanwhile, discussed Entrepreneurial Financial Management. Lastly, Ms. Noemi Tagum former RIC Coordinator of Iriga City shared her experiences as woman entrepreneur engaged in cakes and pastries. (m.r.ilan)