The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Albay in partnership with the Provincial Government of Albay held SA’ÒD ALBAY TRADE and TRAVEL Fair at the Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong on November 25-30, 2022!
This 6-day event showcased the products of companies from Albay. These included eighteen (18) processed food vendors, twenty-two (22} wearables and homestyle shops, and 5 local government units promoting their respective tourism sites and services.
The fair featured Albay Artisan Village, a daily demo of basket weaving, pili nut cracking, pottery making (throwing) and coconut products making mounted at the ground floor lobby of Shangrila Plaza.
There were medium to large scale handicraft exhibitors, including trade fair mainstays such as Natural Carpet Industries, Shelmed Cottage Treasures, and Coco Technologies. Also participating were social enterprises – SEDP Simbag sa Pag-Asenso spearheaded by the Diocese of Legazpi and Muravah Foundation of Camalig.
SEDP – Simbag sa Pag-Asenso
Established in 1994, the SEDP–Simbag sa Pag-Asenso Inc. is a development-oriented institution run by the Diocese of Legazpi. Previously known as the Socio-Economic Development Program of the Social Action Center, Diocese of Legazpi, it spun off as a separate entity in 2004.
It has thirty-four (34) satellite parish outreaches in the province of Albay, neighboring provinces of the Bicol region, and in Samar Island in Visayas. Currently, it serves almost 80,000 members mostly women and their families, providing both financial and non-financial services to its members with the objective of improving their socio-economic condition. It also offers financial services to the employees of parishes, Church institutions and private businesses.
SEDP members have access to micro insurance, educational assistance, and health services. It facilitates members’ access to social protection services such as SSS and senior citizens insurance. It also assists members through its enterprise development services which include improving entrepreneurial competence, scaling up business practices, product management and market linkages.
At the Saod sa Shang trade show, SEDP showcased its members’ broad range of products branded “Simbag” which included pili nut confectioneries, chocolate bars and cacao tablea, peanut butter, bottled coco jam, turmeric and ginger herbal brews, muscovado, moringa, banana and taro chips, and natural fiber handicrafts (abaca and sinamay).
CONTACT INFORMATION:
SEDP MPC – Noemi A. Bonaobra, Executive Director, phone 09158636753
SEDP Inc. – Fr Rex Paul Arjona, President and CEO
Learn more and support: https://sedp.ph/about-us/
Muravah Foundation
The Muravah Foundation started with the vision of helping bring rural communities in the Philippines out of poverty for good. Rather than just providing financial aid to these communities, it provides the resources and support to help create deep-rooted, sustainable, generational change.
It is currently operating in the farming communities surrounding Mt Mayon and has been there on the ground for over 10 years. Many people from rural communities move to the city in search of opportunity, but often end up living in city slums. It believes that by supporting farmers and helping them increase their yields they will stay in their local community. In addition, by building long term profitable enterprises people will return from the cities for a better life.
To serve these communities, Muravah has focused on scholarship, healthcare, job creation and low-cost housing. It has established the Mayon Farmer’s Association to provide support and education to local farmers, water supply to boost production through crop irrigation. It has introduced cacao crop farming. There are now tens of thousands of cacao seedlings and trees, and a cocoa processing plant has been built, employing local workers. The chocolate, branded Mayon Gold, is sold under a profit share arrangement, giving additional income back to the farmers.
Housing for the impoverished communities usually consists of thatching and leftover building materials. These are prone to damage by typhoons that are quite common in Bicol. Often homes and belongings are decimated when a storm comes through, setting families back as they need to try to rebuild. The foundation has commenced building bunker like starter home structures in concrete, measuring 3m x 2.5m that provide more permanent housing for the families. Currently it has built over 50, with funding for 10 more homes in the pipeline.
Learn more and support: https://muravahfoundation.com/