TAGBILARAN City achieved another important milestone in the field of entrepreneurship as evidenced by the successful signing of the Memorandum of Agreement among the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI), Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (PSPC) – Mobility Group, and the City Government of Tagbilaran. The partnership will support the entrepreneurial development program of Tagbilaran City in a sustainable and innovative livelihood project by upcycling used tarpaulins through a local women’s group dubbed as the Tagbilaran City Garments Manufacturing Association.
City Mayor Jane Yap thanked Pilipinas Shell for the livelihood opportunity given to women. Shell President and CEO Lorelei Quiambao Osial said that they are looking forward to this initiative.
“Projects like this is a blessing, we need like-minded people who will help us move our company’s ideals toward nation-building. We want to add value to the society and here we have that opportunity by working with women,” emphasized Osial.
PSFI, established in 1982 as the “social arm” of the Shell companies in the Philippines, is a non-profit organization that works to uplift the lives of the most vulnerable sectors in the Philippines with a focus on six thematic areas: Livelihoods, Education, Health and Safety, Environment and Energy and Nutrition and Food Security.
The parameters of the partnership outlined that PSFI shall: (1) Coordinate with the City Livelihood and Community Development Office of the City Government of Tagbilaran; (2) provide trainings and necessary funding support (in cash or kind) to the Tagbilaran City Garments Manufacturing Association; as well as (3) Conduct monitoring, periodic meetings and engagements with relevant stakeholders on the progress of the project and other possible improvement and modification as special needs arises. While the PSPC-Mobility shall: (1) coordinate with PSFI for the project implementation; (2) identify retail stores within Tagbilaran as the drop-off points for used tarpaulins; (3) Provide a collection box for used tarpaulins in drop-off points; and (4) Conduct periodic meetings and engagements on the progress of the project and other possible improvement and modification as special needs arises; the City Government of Tagbilaran shall: (1) provide organizational, technical and financial support to the Tagbilaran City Garments Manufacturing Association specifically on the production of tarpaulin bags and/or other products made from used tarpaulins; (2) Assist the group in product marketing, completion of registration and submission of necessary documents needed for the funding support; (3) Provide a project focal who will coordinate and update PSFI and PSPC Mobility on project implementation, and (4) Ensure the agency’s attendance and appearance in each meeting to ensure effectivity of the project; and Collect used tarpaulins in the drop off points identified by PSPC within Tagbilaran City.
The second part of the event witnessed the Ceremonial Awarding of Grant Fund to different organizations who are beneficiaries of the Shell LiveWIRE. These enterprises have also successfully presented their Business Model Canvass to the PSFI. PSFI conducted series of entrepreneurship trainings to local enterprises of Tagbilaran City.
Pilipinas Shell Country Chair, Lorelei Quiambao Osial and City Mayor Jane Yap awarded the financial grant assisted by PSFI program manager Ynna Lauron Doblado, Terminal Manager Paul Solon, SP Adviser Jonathan Juanillo and City Livelihoon OIC Engr. Jan Ray Rulida. The Tagbilaran Youth Souvenir Manufacturers (TYSM) scored a grant received by Mebelick Sarabia and Ivy Laguna.
TYSM consists of out-of-school youths from the different barangays of Tagbilaran whose ages are between 18-25 years old. The group hopes to minimize plastic wastes by turning them into beautiful souvenir products and abstract art. The group plans to produce eco-friendly, sustainable and personalized leis for all. They received a grant of P75,000.00 for equipment, raw materials and additional furniture.
Maria Jolivette de Lara Beniga and Ivy Laguna from the Dampas Women’s Organization received its grant. It is a women’s group from Barangay Dampas whose goal is to uplift and inspire women members to provide for their families through a sustainable income. They plan to produce colorful and trendy chocolate bouquets for all occasions. The group received Php 100,000.00 for raw materials and equipment. Hugpong Kababay-an sa Lower Cogon Association (HKLCA), Inc. also received a grant of Php 100,000.00 for equipment, raw materials, marketing and publicity, and other expenditures for advertising and promotion.
HKLCA is an association of women (mostly stay-at-home mothers, single mothers and working-class mothers) who aims to uplift the living condition of their members through the establishment of livelihood facilities, services and enterprises. The association plans to produce affordable, quality and nutritious processed food products such as longganiza, hotdog, chicken lumpia, homemade sisig, chicken and pork tocino.
Berlie Reyes and Aurelia Mangligot received the grant for Kalipi Upcycling Resource Entrepreneurs (KURE). The group aims to produce high quality upcycled lanterns and lampshades made of recycled plastic wastes. Php 120,000.00 was given for raw materials, utilities cost, maintenance cost, tools, equipment, and packaging cost.
Last but not the least, the Tagbilaran City Garments Manufacturers Association (TCGMA) received a grant of Php 130,000.00 for raw materials, utilities, transportation and machine maintenance. (Jeanette Busano)
