Rep. Aris distributes P30-M checks for livelihood capital

GOING BEYOND BOHOL SHORES. Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (6th from left) and Region 7 Directors Asteria Caberte of Trade and Industry and Mercedita Jabagat of Social Welfare and Development (2nd and 4th from left) lead the distribution of checks worth P30 million to capacitate and bankroll the loomweaving, crab meat processing and fish (sardines) processing projects for Boholanos. Witnessing the event are Mayors Natividad Redulla-Gonzaga of Danao and Ronald Lowell Tirol of Buenavista (7th and 8th from left) and the municipal agricultural officers of Pres. Garcia and Panglao. At extreme left is Antonieto Pernia, Aumentado’s consultant on livelihood. CONTRIBUTED FOTO

By JUNE S. BLANCO

REP. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) distributed Friday P30 million in checks for livelihood projects of weavers and fisherfolks in four Bohol municipalities in rites held at the cultural center of Buenavista town.

The checks will capacitate and bankroll loomweaving projects in Buenavista and Danao, crab meat processing in the island town of President Carlos P. Garcia and fish processing in Panglao.

The funds are from the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the 2015 General Appropriations Act – to be implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

DSWD Region 7 Director Mercedita Jabagat and DTI Region 7 Director Asteria Caberte travelled with Aumentado to Buenavista in north Bohol for the ceremony witnessed by Buenavista Mayor Ronald Lowell Tirol, Danao Mayor Natividad Redulla-Gonzaga and the municipal agricultural officers of Pres. Garcia and Panglao.

In her message, Caberte said the loomweavers of Buenavista and Danao will take up the slack in the orders from Paris, France and other Eurpoean countries that current Bohol weavers could not meet. Caberte said new designs for raffia – the dried, bleached and colored fiber from the shoots of the buri palm – have been coming in. 

She said the Bohol weavers must grab the opportunity otherwise the European importers might look to other provinces that can meet their product demand.

DTI is also looking at teaching the Pres. Garcia islanders to process their own crab meat for added value – and to make their product available all year round not only in the town but in supermarkets in the main land as well. 

The same goes true for the fisherfolks of Panglao. Instead of the Boholanos importing sardines from other provinces, Caberte said the process can be reversed after capacitating the Boholanos.

For his part, Aumentado said he will tap other sources to fund the construction of the crab meat processing center.

He said it is high time that the Boholanos tap their innate talent and skill. With training, they can easily produce loomwovens like raffia fabrics, placemats, table runners, rolls and decors, processed crab meat and sardines – and offer these for sale beyond Bohol shores. --- END