CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga (PIA) - - More and more locals are trained on new designs on handicraft weaving right at their villages especially in mountain areas where raw materials are abundant.
The Department of Trade and Industry through its Negosyo Centers (DTI-NC) recently conducted skills upscaling trainings on soft broom making in Magnao in Tabuk City and rattan basketry in Mabaca in Balbalan in efforts to enhance the income generating livelihood of villagers.
At Magnao, DTI through NC-Tabuk City conducted from October 25-27 an upgrading training on Soft Broom Manufacturing and Designing with Product Costing which aims to come up with more consistent quality products, uniformity, and creativity.
Hermito D. Jacinto, President of Cal-owan Tabagan Planters Association who served as the resource person, demonstrated complete methodology of soft broom designing. “Gagamba” and “Bimmiklat” (phython) weaving designs were introduced to upscale the weaving design pattern of the soft broom makers, who also had individual hands-on session. Training outputs were bought immediately by traders.
Product costing and pricing was also discussed to help manufacturers determine the right price. Special orders with customization were received during the last day of training which challenged Magnao soft broom manufacturers to remain committed in producing quality soft brooms in order to live by their soon niche as "Soft Broom Capital of Tabuk City".
At Mabaca, 19 rattan basket weavers underwent a three-day skills training on upcycling on rattan basketry making with Florencio Batang-ay as the trainer.
After the training, the group with the guidance of DTI made initial organizing activity to form themselves into the Mabaca Basket Weaving Association.
Kagawads Efren B. Gonayon and Ermelinda L. Lupnacan expressed their gratitude to all those involved in the training.
"We are grateful on this activity because such activities are rare to happen in our barangay. We are also grateful to our supportive and hard-working partners from the national government agencies and local government unit of Balbalan who are coming here to educate us for our own betterment," Gonayon said. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)
