As part of convergence initiatives, the Municipal Action Team of Boac is currently participating in Marinduque Expo 2019 held on April 14-21, 2019 in Moriones Arena in Boac. The provincial government, along with the Department of Trade and Industry, conducts the exposition as part of the yearly celebration of Moriones Festival. The expo, which started in 1998, aims to promote the products of Marinduque during Lent.

During the Parent Leaders’ meeting, MAT Boac conducted an initial consultation with Pantawid beneficiaries for the consolidation of data on existing products in the municipality. Bangbangalon Consumers Cooperative, the leading Sustainable Livelihood Program Association in Boac, attended and gave their full commitment to the initiative. They consolidated all the products of the beneficiaries and manned the booth during the expo. Other associations that participated were the Federation of Marinduque Agriculture Cooperatives (FEMACO) and Tanikala ng Pagkakaisa Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

According to Ezra Mae Reforma, MAT BOAC member, initiatives like this provide an avenue for Pantawid beneficiaries to showcase their skills in cooking, handicraft making, and others. Also, the activity has provided a market for the products, contributing to the objective to attain sustainability. “One of the problems encountered in this livelihood project is the lack of market opportunity and advertising skills to market their products. Because of this initiative, beneficiaries will have an access to market for their products and provide additional income to the members. The Bangbangalon Consumers Cooperative plans to establish this kind of initiative as their primary business and be the first SLP Association to consolidate different DSWD-assisted products in Marinduque. This will be more possible with the aid of different government agencies such as DTI, Marinduque State College, Department of Agrarian and Reform, and Local Government Units.” she added.

“It is tiring but indeed joyful to do this kind of business. It is our first time engaging in retail business, selling not only our products but also the products of other beneficiaries. We also learned how to deal with different type of customers,” shared Annielor Lamoc, Chairperson of Bangbangalon Consumers Cooperative.

This activity aims to promote the products and showcase the stories behind. Through their participation in similar activities, they show that they are proactive and not dependent on the grant received by the program.

 

Contributor:

John Paul Abaincia, Project Development Officer, Marinduque