PLDT, CCAP reawaken artistry, livelihood to women artisans in Negros Occidental

PLDT has partnered with the Community Crafts Association of the Philippines (CCAP), developing a training program for women artisans in Negros Occidental. The program is designed to enhance women artisans’ talents and skills, as well as update artisanal know-how, and provide meaningful livelihood opportunities.

Aligned with the PLDT Group’s core value of malasakit, the PLDT-CCAP: Partnership for Development of Talented CCAP Artisans seeks to scale up the skills and knowledge of the community-based General Luna Kapit Bisig Association (GenLukba) in Barangay General Luna, Municipality of Toboso in Negros Occidental. The program aims for the community to attain a 10% increase in sales, led by women artisans trained in enterprise development processes and Fair Trade principles. Fair Trade ensures workers are paid a price that offers a basic standard of living and develops prospects for the future.

“We hope that this program will energize our talented GenLukba members who, like most of us, are distressed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said PLDT Community Relations Head Katherine Diaz De Rivera. “Projects like this signify hope, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a program that will hopefully reawaken their artistry and enable them to earn a sustainable livelihood,” Diaz De Rivera added.

At the virtual launch of the program, CCAP Officer-in-Charge-Executive Director Czarina Gragera said the entire project puts into practice the CCAP mission of listening, learning, developing, and connecting. She advised the participants to listen carefully to the trainers: “Learn from our experts and use these new learnings to earn a livelihood for your family. Let us value this program because it can help improve our lives.” The launch was followed by an online training on Synthetic Dyeing on Pandan, facilitated by the Department of Science and Technology.

Grateful to PLDT and CCAP for the program, GenLukba President Anecita Gemoya said, "Nagpapasalamat ang Genlukba sa PLDT sa pa-training na ito. Salamat po at ang organization namin ang napili nyo na bigyan ng pondo para sa project na ito. Sana magkaroon pa kami ng maraming order, sa pagpapaunlad din ng aming komunidad. Salamat po sa CCAP sa patuloy na paggabay at pagsuporta sa aming organisasyon." (We are very thankful to PLDT for choosing Genlukba as fund beneficiary for this project. We hope to receive more orders so we can help improve our community. We also thank CCAP for its continuing guidance and support.)

The PLDT and CCAP partnership program contributes to PLDT’s broader program in helping the Philippines achieve multiple strategies under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.