ILOILO City – Angat Pinas, Inc., popularly known as Angat Buhay Foundation, lauded the Iloilo City Government for its good governance and efficient delivery of public services.
The Angat Buhay, headed by its executive director Raffy Magno, was in Iloilo City last week to turn over 24 sewing machines and starter kits to two homeowners’ associations (HOAs).
The project is in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under Project SALOG (Strengthening Adaptive Livelihoods and Organizing Grassroots Circular Enterprises), which is also supported by the European Union through its Green Economy Programme, in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
“Lahat po ito ay simple dahil meron kayong napakaayos na gobyerno,” according to Magno.
The initial plan was to donate only four sewing machines, but this was later increased to 24 units, each complete with starter kits.
“Dahil po napakahusay ng inyong LEDIP (Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion) Office, at ng City Mayor’s Office, dahil po talaga tinututokan nila ang inyong proyekto. Noong una ang commitment namin ay dapat apat lamang per HOA. Tiningnan ang budget, naging anim. Eventually we will turn over 24 sewing machines for our nanays from two HOAs in Jaro and Molo,” he added.
The beneficiaries from HOAs in Barangay Lanit, Jaro and San Juan Molo, are also beneficiaries of the Women in Iloilo City for Sustainable Economy (WISE) program, who have undergone formal sewing training under the UNDP’s Circular Economy Project.
Magno further said that the initiative also aims to uplift the dignity of beneficiaries, including waste pickers, in their daily work.
“We are very happy to support the vision of the Iloilo City Government. Our assurance is that we will always be here — we will journey with your mothers to ensure that this project becomes sustainable and continues to grow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Raisa S. Treñas expressed her gratitude to Angat Buhay and UNDP for their support to the city’s grassroots livelihood initiatives.
She said Iloilo City will align the project with its ongoing efforts toward a zero-waste and circular economy.
“Iloilo City will continue to innovate. We are now part of the Top 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste of the United Nations. This is part of our efforts to partner with various institutions on how we can reuse and repurpose waste toward a more sustainable future,” she said.
BENEFICIARIES EXPRESS GRATITUDE
Beneficiaries from two HOAs expressed their heartfelt gratitude following the turnover of sewing machines, citing the initiative as a significant boost to their livelihood and skills development.
Agnes V. Hugo, president of the IRPS Lanit Homeowners Association in Jaro, thanked Angat Buhay and UNDP, along with partner agencies including the LEDIP Office, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), Iloilo City Local Housing Office (ICLHO), and the WISE Program, for bringing the project to their community.
Hugo assured that their group would take good care of the equipment and remain committed to sustaining the project to ensure its long-term success.
“Nalipay gid kami kay ini nga project daku gid ini nga bulig para sa amon, especially sa amon palangitan-an. Makadugang sa amon income para makabulig suporta sa mga needs sang amon family members. Nadugangan man ang tagsa-tagsa namon ka skills para mangin productive kami sa amon komunidad. Ini amon gid halungan, dedikaran kag sustineron para mangin madinalag-on ang project nga ini, kag indi mausik ang bulig sang nag-sponsors sa amon,” Hugo expressed.
Meanwhile, Felmar Sianson, president of SAN1 HOA Molo Federation, Inc., also conveyed appreciation to Mayor Treñas for her continued support to communities, particularly to underprivileged residents.
“Ang inyo pagbulig, labi na sa mga proyekto nga naga-suporta sa pangabuhian pareho sang paghatag sang sewing machines, daku gid nga inspirasyon kag bulig sa amon tanan. Paagi sini nga inisyatibo, madamo sa amon ang nabuksan sang bag-o nga oportunidad para makapangabuhi, makatuon sang bag-o nga abilidad, kag mapaayo ang amon kaugalingon kag pamilya,” she said.
Velma Jane Lao, head of the LEDIP Office, emphasized that the initiative reflects the city government’s commitment to economic empowerment.
The sewing machines were distributed as part of a broader livelihood initiative aimed at empowering communities, particularly women and informal sector workers, by providing them with sustainable sources of income.
“The vision of Mayor Raisa and the city government is for our economic empowerment programs to truly improve the lives of our communities. That is why we ensure that assistance from funding agencies like this is maximized. We want to see these sewing machines actively used to grow community-based enterprises, especially among women,” Lao said./PN
