PWC Relaunches Bugasan sa Kababayen-an Project

The Provincial Women’s Council relaunched the “Bugasan sa Kababayen-an Project” last November 19 at the Capitol Dignitary Holding area. Nine women’s groups signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Vice Governor and PWC co-chair Agnes Magpale.

These women’s groups are from the municipalities of Balamban, Asturias, Aloguinsan, Argao, Bantayan, Medellin, Liloan, Malabuyoc, and Santander.

In 2010, the Cebu Provincial Women’s Federation Association launched the Bugasan sa Kababayen-an Project, which aims to increase income and improve the entrepreneurial skills of the women in the province.

The project started with 34 associations among the municipalities in the province and has grown to 43.

In this project, ten sacks of NFA Rice amounting to Php 12,500 are given as starting capital to an accredited association, serving as seed money to start their retail business. The funding was made possible through the support of the Cebu Provincial Government.

During the MOA Signing, PSWDO Assistant Officer-in-Charge Rose Jao said that the status of the Bugasan project shows that five municipalities have a net profit of Php 300,000 and above as of September 15, 2014.

These are Municipality of Carmen with Php 473,665.45, San Remegio with P424,601.59, Carcar with Php 421,261.28, Dalaguete with Php 396,914.83, and Sibonga with Php 307,644.42.

Marilyn Sugarol , president of Carmen Women’s Association said they have received 210 sacks of rice last May 2012 . In two years and four months of rolling the business, they got the highest net profit among the municipalities in the province.

“Amoa baligya sa mga tawo tag Php 27 kada kilo. Usahay gani makasugat mi ug problema kanang customers di mamayad kay utangon ra (We sell it to the people for Php 27 per kilo. Sometimes we encountered problems because there are customers who would buy and pay later),” she said.

“Mapasalamaton kaayo mi sa probinsya sa Sugbo sa pagpadayon sa programa nga makatabang gayud sa amoa (We are very thankful to the Province of Cebu for continuing the program that will help us),”

Carmen chapter is the evidence of how the Bugasan Project can reduce poverty and improve the quality of life.

Meanwhile, KALIPI San Remegio Chapter runs the business in 27 barangays of the municipality, consuming ten sacks per cycle of the business.

Carcar City started the program in August 2010 with 15 barangays. In two years, they ranked third among the highest net profit income.

Noemi Amarilla, KALIPI Cebu Province chapter president, said that the project provides financial assistance to individuals who are interested to improve their economic status. The KALIPI association has availed of the seed capital for their small scale business to boost additional income.

Social Welfare Officer IV Marirose D. Lopez, who is the focal person of the program since 2010, said that the role of the PSWD is to provide technical assistance to implementing people’s organizations and ensure the wise use of funds.

At present, there are 34 local government units composed of 602 barangays who implemented the Bugasan sa Kababayen-an Project.

It was first launched in August 2010 in five municipalities, including Catmon, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, and Tuburan. Only 34 LGUs out of 51 cities and municipalities in the province complied with the requirements.

According to Jao, the relaunching of the project is meant “to make women and the community aware of the existence and implementation of the Bugasan project as well as to intensify and update the public about it.

Cebu Province