Lacub, Abra- They thought of proposing a soap-making business, but through various training and capability workshops, the LAngen LAngen ti LAcub Iniina- Women Farmer’s Association (LALALAI-WFA) is now managing their 1.8M worth of hog raising and meat processing business.

The LALALAI-WFA was organized by the Local Government Unit of Lacub to give women in the municipality the opportunity to actively engage in various community development activities. It is currently composed of 354 women- mostly wives of farmers or small scale miners- from barangays Poblacion, Guiguinabang, Lan-ag, Buneg, Bacag, and Talampac in the said municipality.

The group’s proposal was granted through the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP), formerly known as the Bottom-up Budgeting (BUB) Process implemented through the Local Government Unit and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

LALALAI-WFA was granted the 2.5 Million project to cover the construction of the livelihood building, purchase of meat processing equipment, conduct of trainings and seed capital. The monetary capital was further complemented by skills and management trainings provide by SLP and TESDA. The women entrepreneurs were able to undergo Community Driven Development (CDED) Training, Basic Business Management Training (BBMT), and skills training on meat processing which further geared the association towards the success of their livelihood project.

The association is currently on its second quarter of operation in hog-raising which started with just 22 piglets. The women entrepreneurs are also producing processed meat like longganisa, embutido and tocino at the newly constructed livelihood building which serves as production site, display area and office.

To further expand the livelihood venture and services rendered by the LALALAI-WFA, the association proposed the purchase of bakery equipment, tool, and materials to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DSWD and Lacub LGU have signified support and assistance for the women entrepreneurs who will undergo training in baking and pastry making.

“Parati naming sinisiguro na ang bawat miyembro namin ay nakikibahagi sa lahat ng gawain. Sa papamagitan nito, masisiguro namin na hindi mabubuwag ang aming proyekto.” LALALAI-WFA President Leonor Portela shared.  She also cited that the secret behind their success relies in the partnership that they have with implementing agencies.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region, the GPBP is being implemented through different National Government Agencies in partnership with the Local Government Units. Under the said process, potential beneficiaries submit their project proposals to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for review. Upon approval, the DBM courses the fund through the implementing agencies. For 2014, around Php 3.5 M worth of project proposals from Abra municipalities including Bangued, Lagangilang, Tayum, Licuan-Baay, and Bucay have been granted and coursed through the SLP of DSWD. # DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit