DOLE BATANGAS EMPOWERS AGRI COOPERATIVE THROUGH LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE IN TANAUAN CITY

Eight years ago, an association of natural farming enthusiasts started with hopes of promoting sustainable and healthy living. According to Ms. Esther Manuel, one of the founding members of the Tanauan Organic and Natural Farmers Association.

“Kami yung die hard at we are into organic and natural farming talaga. Kasi ako. Personally, kapag may sakit ako…so kapag nagkakaroon ako ng health concerns, iniisip ko, ano kayang magandang pagkain, halamang gamot na natural na walang kemikal na maaaring makaapekto sa katawan ko. In my personnal capacity noong 2013, nag-attend ako ng training [on natural farming]. Then in 2013, we started off as an association,” she narrated.

Through the years, they evolved into a cooperative and added value to the products they are producing, not only for the benefit of their members but also to all people who are patronizing and availing their products.

To further enhance their products, the Department of Labor and Employment IV-A, through its Batangas Provincial Office, turned over a livelihood grant to the Tanauan City Natural Farming Agricultural Cooperative amounting to Php 465,715.00 for their operations trading post during a ceremony held at Tanauan City, Batangas, on January 16.

According to Ms. Manuel, their application with DOLE was swift, and the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program personnel assisted them promptly until the day of the turnover.

All smiles. Members of the Tanauan City Natural Farming Agricultural Cooperative received their much-needed enhancement assistance during a release held at Tanauan City, Batangas, January 16. (Photo by A. Magpantay)

“We are very thankful na ang bilis ng processing. At tsaka, yan talaga ang gusto namin, kasi mayroon kaming facility na underutilized so ito ang sagot doon…DOLE, thank you…We are so thankful to your very prompt and timely download ng mga goodies namin. Talagang beyond our expectation,” she remarked.

During the ceremony, DOLE Batangas Provincial Director Predelma Tan emphasized that the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) has been assisting enterprises with their much-needed assistance, not only for those who would want to start their business ideas, but also those who would like to enhance and restore their respective businesses.

Director Tan expressed her continued hope that the turned-over packages will provide substantial aid to the lives of the beneficiaries. (Photo by A. Magpantay)

Meanwhile, simultaneous with the release of assistance to the agri cooperative, 5 individuals, in collaboration with the Philippine Commission on Women, also received packages of various kinds, including baking, carinderia, homemade chicken barbecue, paresan, and printing start-up kits.

The DOLE Batangas personnel shall continue with the monitoring of the beneficiaries' progress to ensure that they continue to strive in growing their newly-turned over packages to ultimately aid them in their day-to-day needs.#