Tinglayan is a 4th class municipality in Kalinga, comprised of 20 barangays, two of which inhabited by the Tulgao Tribe. Barangay Tulgao West is accessible in about an hour. The community is diverse due to intermarriages, and has 30 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) active household beneficiaries among the 560 households. Most residents rely on farming, gardening, weaving, construction, blacksmithing, and small enterprises for their livelihood, earning daily wages between P250.00 and P400.00—insufficient for their families’ needs.
Among the household which include Antonio Basing-at and Erlinda Wadwad’s family of three school-aged children — a high schooler, an elementary pupil, and a daycare child. Neither Antonio nor Erlinda completed primary school, so they turned to farming and local labor from a young age. Their primary source of income is a small rice field, supplemented by sales from Antonio’s products, which only met their basic needs.
Antonio learned weaving from his father at age 14 and continued it throughout his life. He makes soft brooms and circular winnowers (“bilao”) during the tiger grass and rattan harvest season, selling them locally. However, production was slow, often yielding only three winnowers per week. Challenges such as debts, rising raw material costs, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which drained their savings, made sustaining their livelihood difficult. Nevertheless, Antonio’s perseverance allowed him to keep his enterprise running. He expressed gratitude for being chosen as a beneficiary of the DSWD’s Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG), which provided P15,000.00 to support his weaving business in 2022.
Empowered Growth: The Impact of the Livelihood Assistance Grant
Antonio’s weaving business, based at their home in Barangay Tulgao West, received a boost with the P15,000.00 grant. He used the funds to buy rattan, tiger grass, nito vine, and tools from local sources and nearby Tabuk City. His weekly production cycle expanded, serving customers in Mountain Province, particularly Bontoc and Sagada, as well as Tulgao East and West. The enterprise now generates P20,000.00–P25,000.00 quarterly, which Antonio reinvests for operational expenses, basic needs, and emergencies.
Antonio secured a steady customer base across the Tulgao barangays and Mountain Province. His earnings allowed him to invest in more materials, increasing production, especially during peak seasons. The additional capital enabled him to expand to other barangays, boosting his monthly revenue and providing a rolling fund.
The weaving venture has proven essential not only for Barangay Tulgao West but for other areas as well, preserving local crafts and improving market accessibility. Despite challenges such as raw material shortages and fluctuating prices, Antonio remains committed to maintaining operations. He is eager to acquire new skills and technical assistance to enhance marketing, diversify products, and improve financial documentation, with support from the barangay, and DSWD.
Over 19 months of managing the weaving business under the LAG, Antonio’s income has significantly contributed to his family, especially for their children’s education. His enterprise also strengthened partnerships within the community and attracted customers from various municipalities.
A Story of Growth
Antonio and Erlinda are dedicated to sustaining their micro-enterprise. He adheres to disciplined practices, preparing raw materials at night and working six days a week. He produces one circular winnower daily and five soft brooms monthly, selling 20-25 winnowers quarterly. His careful scheduling ensures product quality, efficient marketing, and reduced expenses. The family remains hopeful that their hard work and integrity will help them overcome obstacles such as market access difficulties and fluctuating transportation costs.
With their dedication and community support, Antonio’s business has flourished. Sales have increased, and the enterprise has become more profitable, benefiting from the assistance of his family, the LGU, and community members.
The Role of SLP in Asset Growth
The increased income from Antonio’s weaving business has enhanced his credibility and records as the family provider. The continuous profit allowed him to elevate their standard of living, providing for their daily needs, funding their children’s education, and saving for future needs. The additional funds have also been invested in raw materials to sustain the business.
As a participant in the Livelihood Assistance Grant, Antonio is deeply thankful for the guidance and support from DSWD-SLP, which provided technical assistance crucial to his business operations. The grant played a vital role in helping participants like Antonio implement and maintain their micro-enterprises, ultimately supporting their families’ needs.
“Dakkel iti yaman ko iti naited nga pundo kinyak nga nagapu iti DSWD lalo ta immadu iti maaramid kon nga bigao ta inmadu met iti materyales nga mausar ko. Amin nga makolektak nu mailakok dagijay produktok ket dagus nga mausar para iti kailangan iti pamilya mi, ket dakkel a tulong dijayen.” ( I am very thankful for the fund that I received from the DSWD especially that I was able to manufacture a plenty of circular winnower, it is because I was able to have additional raw materials which was properly utilized. With this, all collected profit from my livelihood was immediately used for the basic needs of my family and it is a great help to us).#DSWD-CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, Joanna Marie M. Caponpon-Apostol, PDO II, with Hanielyn B. Abay, SWAD Kalinga.
