Change story - Linay women see better prospects in sewing than fishing

24 January 2011 – “I have earned Php 760 (USD 18) now for three days running. Not bad for days without any catch,” says Modesta Villarin, 55, of Linay village in the municipality of Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte (Philippines). 

Moding, as she is fondly called by group mates and community members, turned to sewing when fish catches started to dwindle in the early 2000s. 

“Since then fishing has never been the same,” Moding says.  “From 1992 to 2000, we were able to send our five children to school through my husband’s fishing.  Using drift fish nets (pukot), he used to harvest two boxes, that is, 80 kilos of fish a night or about 35 kilos when multiple hooks and line (pasol) were used.”

“But fishing has never been good since then! Now, my husband is lucky if he gets any catch for the night.  Even though I am already old, tired and in pain from arthritis, I am forced to pedal the sewing machine to augment my husband’s income and finance the studies of my remaining child in college.  For the last 10 years, our finances have never been easy” she said. 

Moding is one of the beneficiaries of an RFLP initiative to provide assistance to a sewing project run by the Linay Women’s Association (LIWOA).  RFLP provided the organization two brand new disc-o-matic sewing machines, a single stitch high-speed Juki brand machine and another high-speed sewing machine as well as Php 32,000 worth of sewing kits, textiles, threads and other raw materials.  Eighteen members of the group also took part in a sewing skills enhancement training course from 17-21 October 2011 with the first production cycle commencing soon after.    

“I realized that a number of women from our village had already received sewing training from previous government programs,” said Melissa Belagantol, Linay’s barangay captain.

“The first training session was held in 2006 in Barangay Irasan here in Manukan.  For one month, 15 of us were trained in making panties, blouses, skirts, briefs, slacks, pillow cases and TV covers by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).  It was fun! As the PSWDO didn’t have many resources we had to bring our own provisions and to hitch a ride using the municipal ambulance to and from our homes just so we could complete the training,” she said.

“We received more training in 2010, again sponsored by the PSWDO.  The same 15 trainees were taught bag-making and dressmaking,” narrated the village chief.

However due to a lack of capital and equipment the group was never able to translate the knowledge and skills they had into increased incomes.

“We decided to continue with sewing as an alternative livelihood option and asked RFLP to help us,” added Melissa Belagantol.   

Three women from Linay including Melissa participated in a business planning workshop organized by RFLP in August 2011 where they brainstormed ways to improve the production and financial feasibility of sewing operations.  As a result of these discussions the group decided that they would focus on bags and caps/hats.

“We had to select those who already had sewing skills as priority beneficiaries for the RFLP project.  Later on, we will train other women members who don’t have the skills so we can spread the benefits of this project,” said LIWOA president Maria Bautista Bohol.   

There are five tasks/roles in the current organizational set-up of the project: a master-cutter, sewers, rippers, a canvasser, and a bookkeeper.  Labour is paid on piece rate: sewers get Php 16 for big bags, Php 8 for give-away bags, and Php 4 for caps.  The master -cutter receives Php 8.  The canvasser is also on piece rate.

The 42-member Linay Women’s Association was organized in 2006 by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) of the municipality of Manukan as a local women’s organization of the municipal federation of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI, National Federation of Women’s Associations).   

“We need now to renew our registration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) so we can legitimize our organization and the business operations,” explained Maria Bautista. 

Maria Bautista declared they would start collecting Php 10 annual dues and Php 5 monthly dues from members.   RFLP National Consultants Paz Moneva and Luisito Uy recommended the group to start with capital build-up and savings mobilization.  RFLP can then help the group approach rural banks and micro-finance institutions to further finance the business. 

“I had a number of orders for bags from local traders and stores in town for Christmas give-aways,” said Maria who is also the project canvasser.  “And there are more market prospects in town,” she added.

RFLP has also ordered waterproof bags for members of various local government Fisheries Law Enforcement Teams.  

The LIWOA women hope to receive follow-up training from RFLP on making sportswear, school uniforms and other apparel which consumers may use for different occasions and seasons. 

“We are very happy with this project.  This is the first time ever we have been  trained, received the equipment, capital and raw materials we need and then be able to  start producing goods instantaneously!” exclaimed Maria Bautista.