ILOILO City — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 has opened Balai Patubas, a permanent showroom aimed at expanding market access for products made by local artisans and livelihood groups under the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) across Western Visayas.
Located between Molo I Elementary School and the DSWD-6 compound, Balai Patubas serves as a centralized hub for showcasing and selling locally made products, positioning community-based enterprises for greater visibility and sustained income opportunities.
Carrying the tagline “Produkto Lokal, Kabuhi, kag Himakas” (Local Products, Livelihood, and Endeavors), the showroom features a wide range of handcrafted items, including Christmas décor, handbags, woven textiles, ornaments, wearable crafts, household items, and food products such as tultul salt and artisanal teas, many of which are made from indigenous materials like nito, bamboo, and pandan.
The opening of Balai Patubas is complemented by the launch of the SLP Product Catalogue, an online platform that allows consumers to browse products beyond those physically displayed at the showroom, including perishable goods. The catalogue provides product details and direct contact information for producers, enabling buyers to transact directly with SLP participants.
DSWD-6 officer-in-charge regional director Joselito Estember said the initiative reflects the agency’s broader goal of raising the competitiveness of community-made products and strengthening livelihood sustainability.
“We need to come up with strategies to help make our SLP products world-class,” Estember said, urging program implementers to further improve product quality, branding, and market reach.
Estember also cited the contributions of OIC-Promotive Services Division Chief Judith Barredo and SLP Regional Program Coordinator Juliet D. Besa in operationalizing the showroom.
Products on display come from SLP associations and artisans from Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Iloilo City, reflecting the region’s diverse cultural heritage and creative industries.
The launch was attended by DSWD-6 officials, including Assistant Regional Director for Operations Katherine Joy M. Lamprea, OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Administration Ryan A. De La Gente, and division chiefs and staff from regional and provincial offices.
Balai Patubas is open to the public from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., offering consumers a direct way to support local producers while reinforcing the role of livelihood programs in community-based economic development./PN
