Dalaguete women augment income thru veggie noodles
A group of women farmers in Dalaguete has found a way to augment their income and bail them out of dire financial needs through vegetables noodles making.
Dalaguete, a first-class municipality in Cebu south, is dubbed as the “Summer Capital of the Province” and “Vegetable Basket of the South.” It has 33 barangays, most of which are situated in upland areas with farming as major source of livelihood.
In 2011, the Dalaguete Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) formed a women’s association in one of the barangays in town —- the Caliongan Skilled Women Association (CASWA) composed of 28 female members, most of whom are farmers earning below minimum wage. This seasonal livelihood and other irregular labor work does not guarantee enough income for their dayto-day needs.
Since the viability of the vegetable products are high, the MSWDO headed by Ms. Evelyn Sarmago in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), trained the members on vegetable processing especially squash noodles with malunggay making together with other participants from other barangays like Mantalongon to help and augment the families’ financial state.
Along the days of the training, the CASWA members have gone several challenges, financial and personal matter. Also, the group does not have enough equipment to use in making the squash noodles with malunggay, which delays their production. These made them more determined and optimistic to get involve in the offered trainings, orientations and seminars initiated by the local government unit and DOST.
In December 2014, the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Implementing Project Development Officer (IPDO), Ms. Merlita L. Faburada made an assessment and validation as to the qualification of the CASWA to receive the department’s livelihood assistance based on the SLP implementing guidelines.
Fortunately, the CASWA SLP qualified for the assistance and received Php 279,655 charged to the Seed Capital Fund from the DSWD SLP and Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB). An additional Php 35,294 was released by the LGU as counterpart fund.
In July 2015, the association got its dream machine and other equipment for the squash noodles with malunggay production. The DSWD-SLP continued the skills training on vegetable processing, technical support for vegetables noodles production and squash noodles training with packaging and labelling through the DOST.
The group also received logistical support from the barangay local government unit, who provided them a building for noodle production.
Now, the CASWA SLP produces around 2,800 packs of noodles monthly. The noodles, at Php 5 per pack of 50 grams, are sold to the Supplementary Feeding Program implemented by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and its neighboring barangays.
The health benefits and affordability of their products gained popularity among other MSWDOs, who requested CASWA to supply nutritious noodles for their day care centers. This enabled the CASWA members to expand their market to neighboring municipalities.
The SLPA's average monthly net income is Php 5,000, which increases during trade fairs. The shares that members get depend on their participation. Additional income is about Php 3,000 for each active member per year.
To generate more income, the members decided to contribute at least Php 500 each for their sinking fund and another Php 10 weekly contribution for the group’s immediate expenses like fare for the members in need and snacks during their weekly meeting.
One of the best testaments to the success of the group is that of Esmeralda Borla, SLPA president. She was able to invest in livestock using money which she saved from her share in the CASWA SLP. She said that her participation in the SLPA helps her provide for her family and support her children’s education.
In addition, the association is DOLE registered and recognized in their municipality as the MostActive Livelihood Association.