BAKERY OF OPPORTUNITY: EMPOWERING DISPLACED WOMEN WORKERS

OF
LA PAZ, NAGA ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY THROUGH LIVELIHOOD

When a door closes, a window opens. This is

how the officers of La Paz Womens Association
compared their selves during their times of
struggle after majority of their members were
greatly affected by the closure and cessation of AA
Export and Import Corporation in their barangay in
2009. When the notice of temporary work
stoppage was issued by the establishment to its
workers, the DOLE immediately hold series of dialogues/consultations with
management as well as with the affected workers for possible interventions. As an
off-shoot of a dialogue conducted by the DOLE with the management and workers
of AA Export and Import Corporation, the establishment of a bakery project was
proposed as a viable enterprise considering the associations needs, interest and
entrepreneurial skills. The bakery was established to help the distressed women
workers cope up with the economic crisis.
The grant amounting to Php 422,500.00 was
awarded to the ACP, the LGU Naga, on February
2008 but due to delays and failure of the bidding
process the association requested that the funds
be transferred to the account of the Barangay so
that the project will be administered by the
Barangay Officials. On February 2009 the
livelihood fund was transferred to the account of
the Barangay LGU which then fast tracked the
construction of the production center and procurement of equipment and materials.
On May 08, 2010 the bakery project started to operate.
The bakery is being operated by 2 workers, one
baker and one sales clerk. The baker receives Php
300 daily wage for his work rendered from 7:00
am to 3:00 pm. The sales clerk receives Php 600
for her weekly wage. Their 13th month pay is
given every June and December and they are also
registered to the SSS.
Aside from their bakery operations they also provided micro-lending services to
their members in order to provide opportunity to their members to engage into
other entrepreneurial undertaking to augment their family income. The amount
loaned by members from the Association were utilized as capitalization for
livelihood like rice farming, crab fattening, bangus raising, livestock raising, snacks
vending and sari-sari store. Every year 100 members can avail the loan services of
the Association, with an interest rate of 3% payable within 10 months. In 2014 the
association was able to release Php270,500.00 to 90 members.
Based on records, their yearly bakery sales and lending profits increases each year.
In 2011, their earnings reached to Php 140,856.00. In 2013, their sales reached up
to Php266,308.00 and despite a slowdown in the economy in 2014 their sales

reached up to Php 357,739.00. At present they have a bank savings amounting to

Php300,000.00.
Another major activity of the association is the
conduct of their Annual General Assembly every
December which became a huge motivating factor
for the group to maintain their cohesiveness and
cooperation. During their annual assembly
members can receive their patronage refund for
patronizing their bakery products and availing
their lending services, 200 pesos cash gift, household items as gifts and cash prizes
for special awards.
The association also extends hospitalization assistance to its members amounting
to 500 pesos which already benefited at least 32 members.
Through their savings their bakeshop was repainted, new plastic chairs for the shop
were purchased and roll-up doors were installed to ensure security of their
equipment.
It is very seldom that we can see
women associations that were
successful
in
their
livelihood
projects and when the officers were
asked how did they achieve their
success their answer is their ability
to
perservere
and
maintain
cohesiveness. They also observe
transparency in their financial
transactions
and
good
record
keeping.
The Officers of La Paz Womens
These women faced great struggle
Association in La Paz, Naga Zamboanga
at the beginning, but they never
Sibugay.
faltered and fall. Instead, they
discovered possibilities and opportunities during those bad situations. These women
are testaments that Filipinos are resilient and that we have the ability to bounce
back from the tough and difficult times we experienced. Even if a door is slammed
right in front of our face we will never give up because there will be another window
of opportunity that will be opened for us.