SikapBuhay News

Vedasto Leather: product recall is equal to new markets

2011-12-13T02:06:00.001-08:00

Vedasto Delos Reyes, then as a working first year college student, started as a leather goods designer among his kababayans in his native Balayan, Batangas Province in 1971.

After 6 years, he joined the Manel’s Leather Store and became its resident designer along with four other workers. At Manel’s, he met his wife Poleen, who happened to be the first cousin of Manel’s owner. After 2 years, he resigned from Manel’s, thinking that his partnership with them is not all that lucky.

It was the year 1978 when Vedasto started his business solely in a ‘mano-mano’ (per piece) manner. He was in his late 20’s at that time. With a P1,000 starting capital and P5,000 worth of materials and his siblings as his marketing agents, he supplied his first Batangas customers who were Poleen’s relatives.

Wallets and coin purses are Vedasto’s first products. Later on, he produced ladies’ bags on a per order basis. It took only a year before he recovered the initial investments. And the rest, as the saying goes, was history.

Humble beginnings

It was in the early 80’s when Mang Vedie, as Vedasto’s known to friends and relatives, bought his manufacturing machines and hired 2 workers for production upgrade and meet more orders. He bought sewing and sliding machines and makes better quality leather products. Five years later, he increased his workers gradually from 10 to 15 workers. He fulfilled orders coming mainly from individual customers.

Visioning for the bigger league, he peddle at bazaars, malls and conventions of professional associations like engineers, teachers, nurses, and doctors. It was in these events where he was spotted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and invited to their agency-initiated trade fairs like Buy Pinoy, Noel Bazaar, One Town One Product (OTOP) in the cities of Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao. Mang Vedie calendared to participate in 20 bazaars and trade fairs within a year.

It was on December of the same year when Mang Vedie produced souvenir bags as convention kits in large volume. Later, he joined trade fairs at SM Megamall and was consistently invited thereon.

Seeing business viability, he then expanded the ownership base of his enterprise to include his five (5) children. Together, they put up retail stores in SM Megamall, Robinsons Ermita, and Trinoma malls, but professional conventions remain to be his top-selling. He then appointed Poleen and his children to concentrate more on the sales aspect while he focuses on designing and production sides. Sales are its peak during this month where Vedasto products are the best gifts for the Yuletide seasons.

Mang Vedie preferred direct-selling where he could straightforwardly keep an eye on his products’ trail. He belittled his experience on exports in the year 1990 and became uneasy and has second thoughts on delving on it again.

Mang Vedie shared that if one would make franchising inquiries, a capitalization of P100,000 should be shelled out by the applying entrepreneur. He required aspiring marketers a minimum amount of P50,000 to commence sales partnership.

Currently, Vedasto Corporation has 30 stay-in workers with a starting wage of P4,500. It also has five (5) areas in some communities that produce on a sub-contracting level with P250 per piece work.

It also established 2 factories at nearby streets for more secure business and production work. In 3 days alone, these factories can produce a hundred coin purses. To boost volume, Mang Vedie wanted to augment its workforce and add another production site.

The company has 2 delivery vehicles to supplement its work. The company gets its supplies from Bulacan province. Sometimes, it buys imported soft leather from Europe and Japan.

It never run out of designs as it has direct links and assistance from the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP) and work on researches enhancing indigenous designs.

Dreams do come true

Mang Vedie dreamed of building their own house and economic stability for their children. It took him 10 years to finish the second floor of their formerly bungalow house built in 1997. He took the pain of seeking a PhP2.5M bank loan to finish his dream house grabbing heavy toll on their business. Mang Vedie recovered only after 5 years and thankful to closed friends and relatives who provided help.

Compared to other parents, Mang Vedie’s appreciative that his children got immediate exposure to business, and didn’t carry out as ordinary back-breaking laborers. He’s thankful that Poleen finished a commerce degree and equipped against swindlers.

Building business confidence

There’s no stopping Mang Vedie as he allocated all the product supplies to 20 trade shows calendared the whole year-round. From the smallest tiangge (bazaar) to the National Trade Fair (NTF) of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), he sees to it he has ample product supplies to meet these entire load.

Furthermore, he seeks to become a regular exhibitor/concessionaire on all these trade shows and bazaars. He believed that being a suki (regular) to these generates customer familiarity, brings referrals, exposure to newer markets and widens networks. Professional organizations’ conventions and national gatherings are Vedasto’s unfailing lucrative market.

To give back, Mang Vedie wanted to share knowledge and do product demonstrations and coin purse making livelihood seminar for the enterprising poor. Mang Vedie’s production style is guaranteed since the tiniest raw material could still be recycled into ingenious bags, purses, and belt bags, etc. Eventually, Mang Vedie’s hopeful that these could reach all blighted communities of Quezon City. ###

For inquiries, contact: Vedasto Leather goods, Poleen Delos Reyes, #51 Maginoo St, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City. Email: leathergoods@yahoo.com, Telephone# 922-4668, 733-2954, Mobile# 0918-9441265.

Quezon City, Insurance Commission signs MOU launching microinsurance financial literacy

2011-02-06T22:25:00.001-08:00

For Immediate Release
February 7, 2011

“An affordable low-income based risk protection is now taking roots and showing strong growth potential”

This statement was made by Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc during Quezon City’s flag raising ceremony today. For as low as P1 a day, Commissioner Dooc said, low-income households can avail of appropriate insurance products. More importantly, claims can be processed by insurance providers in as short a span of 10 days.

Commissioner Dooc noted that microinsurance complements the microfinance initiative of government for people in the informal sector. He noted that with the Philippines recognized 2nd in ranking worldwide in the field of microfinance, it wouldn’t be impossible for the country to eventually be ranked first place in developing microinsurance. Commissioner Dooc bragged that the country’s leadership in microinsurance development is assured with the great enthusiasm of project partners and the committed collaboration of the Quezon City (QC) government in pioneering the project.

A press forum took place immediately after the flag-raising highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Quezon City Government represented by Mayor Herbert Bautista and the Insurance Commission represented by Commisioner Emmanuel Dooc.

For QC’s part, Mayor Herbert Baustista shared that with the MOU’s signing, the financial literacy campaign on micro-insurance will provide mechanisms to enable the city to spread the news and push for this initiative. With this noble scheme, poverty reduction is facilitated and assured and destitution will eventually be wiped out, especially for low-income communities.

Commissioner Dooc congratulated QC Mayor Bautista for making microinsurance a reality, and hoped that QC’s example would be replicated in other parts of the nation.

Gracing the MOU signing were Quezon City Council’s Minority Floor Leader Councilor Wenceslao Pinggoy Lagumbay, and officials and representatives of the Department of Finance (DOF), National Credit Council (NCC), Asian Development Bank (ADB), German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) and organized private insurance providers from Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA), Philippine Life Insurance Association (PLIA), Association of Health Maintenance Organizations of the Philippines Inc. (AHMOPI), among others. ###

Quezon City chosen as pilot for microinsurance financial literacy program

2011-02-04T01:16:00.001-08:00

For immediate release
February 4, 2010

Banking on its laurels in the field of microfinance as a poverty reduction program, the Quezon City government launched through a symposium a pioneering campaign focused on microinsurance financial literacy for its low-income constituents.

The Department of Finance (DOF) and the Insurance Commission (IC) teamed-up with the local government of Quezon City (QC) through its Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) in building consciousness on microinsurance. The symposium is a dry-run for the launch of the “Roadmap to Financial Literacy on Microinsurance” that will take place on February 7, 2010 at the Quezon City Hall grounds.

The launch of the Roadmap will be the pilot event in a massive campaign to promote microinsurance awareness all over the country. The collaboration between the national government and local government is seen to promote and provide risk protection to the country’s low income earners and will hopefully result in substantial poverty reduction.

Speaking before the participants of the microinsurance symposium, Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista dubbed microinsurance as another distinct innovation in alleviating poverty. Complementing QC’s microfinance access with livelihood and skills training, Mayor Bautista said that the uniqueness of microinsurance as a program is that it will benefit a lot of people, especially in reducing their risks.

Mayor Bautista registered his concern that a lot of poor household’s meager savings went to health care, or at the very least, to preventive health concerns. Mayor Bautista noted that microinsurance is mutually beneficial to both public entities and private enterprises and will generate great interest among QC’s constituents. The information and education campaign on microinsurance should be fully institutionalized for greater complementation with the City’s programs on microfinance access, livelihood generation, and skills trainings.

Likewise, National Credit Council Director Joselito Almario bewailed the absence of insurance coverage for ordinary people. Director Almario said that if poor can afford a weekly cell phone load of P20, they then can set aside a similar amount for health and microinsurance. Director Almario said that even ordinary people need appropriate risk protection in the light of natural calamities and unexpected adversities.

Director Almario also said that institutional and stakeholders’ capacities must be strengthened in order to meet the necessary reforms up to the ground level.

The partnership between the Department of Finance (DOF), Insurance Commission (IC) and the local government of Quezon City (QC) through its Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) will commence on February 07, 2010 at the Flag Raising Ceremony of the Quezon City government where Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel F. Dooc and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista will deliver keynote speeches. The event will be immediately followed by a press conference.

Microinsurance was introduced in the country to supplement the poverty alleviation program of the government. Since poor households are most vulnerable to risks associated with uncertain losses such as death, illness or injury, accidents, and natural and/or man-made calamities, there is a vital need to provide the low-income sector with access to affordable financial protection in case of such contingencies.

Last year, the government through the Department of Finance-National Credit Council (DOF-NCC) and in collaboration with other government agencies and the private sector launched the twin pillars of microinsurance development – the “National Strategy for Microinsurance” and the “Regulatory Framework for Microinsurance”.

The “National Strategy for Microinsurance” defines the vision, objectives, roles of the various stakeholders, and key strategies to be pursued in enhancing access of the low-income sector to insurance products and services. The “Regulatory Framework for Microinsurance”, on the other hand, establishes the policy and regulatory environment to encourage, enhance, and facilitate the safe and sound provision of microinsurance products and services by the private sector. ###

Gonegosyo Seminar (Dec 14, 2010) with Keynote Speaker Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista

2011-01-27T00:31:00.000-08:00

Health & wellness inventions are top microbiz potentials

2010-12-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

December 06, 2010
Immediate release

THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED 1st Quezon City Inventors Expo and Trade Fair proved that health and wellness products remain trendy among aspiring entrepreneurs.

Top in sales exhibitors-inventors include-- Enboster Enterprise for energized fashion jewelry, BDO Herbosido Products for herbal products, Caisip Bignay Tea, Dok Alternatibo for herbal medicine products, and Green Rescue Organic Products for oregano juices, soaps, wines, vinegars and teas.

“As prices of medicines spiral, Filipinos have given focus to preventive health care as an important investment for their time and money. Yet, most Filipinos see all the important preventive services they need — that is, screening tests for early findings of disease, as well as immunizations, and education about healthy habits,” said Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship & Cooperative Office Head Marlyn Siapno.

It is unfortunate that in general, Filipinos have no health insurance to pay for tests, vaccines, and other medical care. Prevention has become the most economical form of medicine — well worth budgeting for, even if insurance doesn’t cover it. With declining household incomes and consumption falling at 3.1% (1st Quarter, Y2009), one out of two poor Filipino dies without receiving any medical attention, in a situation where more than half of the population has no access to basic health care.

“The exhibits showcased healthy herbal products that have been made accessible to the growing health-conscious consuming public. These kind of innovative products must be supported by the local government unit (LGU) to complement their existing health programs and services,” said Quezon City Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte during the closing and awarding ceremonies of the 1st QC Inventors Expo.

The 1st Quezon City Inventors Expo and Trade Fair was made possible through the collaboration of the local government of Quezon City, under the leadership of Mayor Herbert M. Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy G. Belmonte, and the Filipino Inventor’s Society (FIS) under the chairmanship of Mr. Bormeo Modanza. ###

QC’s poor residents raise their own fish - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

2010-11-29T04:46:00.000-08:00

QC’s poor residents raise their own fish - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

Filipino Inventors Expo Kick-off in Quezon City

2010-11-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

November 19, 2010
For immediate release

The Quezon City government, through the leadership of Mayor Herbert M. Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy G. Belmonte, today opened the 1st Quezon City Filipino Inventors Expo and Trade Fair, which will run from November 15 to 21, 2010, at the Quezon City Hall Risen Garden.

Speaking during the opening ceremonies, Mayor Bautista said that our country’s research and development initiatives must continue in order for us to discover innovative products that will be beneficial to the people. Likewise, these inventions, especially those made by young people, must continuously be provided with both technical and budgetary support, he said.

Mayor Bautista also noted that “inventions must address issues and concerns affecting the people. It should have eco-friendly products and should help in reducing utility consumption that has become exorbitant”. Bautista strongly encouraged the private sector to support, respect, understand and give life-time recognition to inventors and give credit where credits are due; especially for those inventions at par with the rest of the world.

Vice-Mayor Joy Belmonte, in her welcome remarks, noted that Quezon City envisions itself to be the future Knowledge Capital of the country; and that inventors are one of the key factors for attaining such vision. This was one of the reasons why the City organized the Inventor’s Expo. Moreover, Vice-Mayor Joy sees the event as a spark for development since new businesses need newer technologies, she said.

Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Engr. Mario Montejo, in his Inspirational Message, commended the Quezon City government for making the city accessible to our striving inventors. He applauded the inventors for giving primacy to health and wellness products by amplifying the country’s biodiversity of nature’s bounty.

Steered by the theme “Linking technology resources with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s)”, the said expo and trade fair is showcasing our home-grown inventors and their inventive ideas, processes and products in three industry-sectors: environment, infrastructure and tourism.

The expo and trade fair is co-sponsored by the Filipino Inventor’s Society (FIS), an organization of Filipino inventors established in 1943.

The inventors’ trade fair hopes to attract MSMEs, investors and the buying public to patronize the unique, innovative and proudly Filipino-made products that are good for household, personal, commercial and industrial use. It likewise targets science & technology students at the high school and college levels as they may potentially be the country’s future inventors.

Product inventions range from infrastructure and construction, alternative energy sources, food and nutrition and health and wellness products. Free product samples and demonstrations are available for the public to partake and test.

A hundred innovators, with more than a thousand inventions, will participate in the first ever inventors’ exposition and trade fair for Quezon City. ###

First Inventors Trade Fair in Quezon City slated

2010-11-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

November 11, 2010
For immediate release

MORE THAN A HUNDRED inventors, innovators and technologists will participate in the first ever inventors’ exposition and trade fair for Quezon City.

Celebrating the National Inventors Week by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation in 1993 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos, declaring that a whole week be afforded to honor and recognize past and present Filipino inventors, Quezon City responded to the call spearheaded by Mayor Herbert M. Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy G. Belmonte by sponsoring the event- the 1st QC Filipino Inventors Expo and Trade Fair, which will run from November 15 to 21, 2010, at the Quezon City Hall Risen Garden.

The expo and trade fair is co-sponsored by the Filipino Inventor’s Society (FIS), an organization of Filipino inventors established in 1943. The expo and trade fair is aligned with the celebration of Philippine National Inventor’s Week. The trade fair event is being coordinated by the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO). For list of participating inventor-exhibitors, please browse http://www.quezoncity.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=570&Itemid=122

Guided by the theme “Linking technology resources with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s)”, this expo and trade fair aims to showcase and prop up our home-grown inventors, and their micro-businesses.

This week-long expo and trade fair will showcase more than 80 inventions, ranging from infrastructure and construction, alternative energy sources, food and nutrition and health and wellness products. Free product samples and demonstrations are available for the public to partake and test.

The expo and trade fair will likewise double as a trade fair, where these inventions will be marketed to potential investors and the buying public. It will likewise entice science & technology students, barangay constituents, and aspiring innovative entrepreneurs. ###

Sikap Buhay lends a hand to QC cooperatives

2010-11-11T00:52:00.000-08:00

Sikap Buhay lends a hand to QC cooperatives
Posted at 5:35 pm October 12, 2010

By Alexander Villafania
http://goquezoncity.ph/work-in-qc/sikap-buhay-lends-a-hand-to-quezon-citys-cooperatives/

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Micro to small and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) are by far the most numerous in the Philippines. According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), 92 percent of all businesses are in the MSME sector.

Many of these businesses are cooperatives, businesses built by locals and whose incomes are shared among the owners. These are companies that have a much larger number of owners that help develop their local products or services. With their numbers growing, many finance organizations have opened micro-financing schemes to start their businesses.

In Quezon City, the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) has been helping over thousands of the city’s micro-entrepreneurs. Since it was opened up by former Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte in 2002, the program has already helped at least 40,000 people for their cooperatives and has released at least P500 million in micro-financing funds.

The program has been re-launched under the banner of incumbent vice mayor Joy Belmonte and is organizing a number of free seminars in different parts of the city. Additional seminars can be held in selected locations as long as there are a number of attendees from the districts residents.

A number of seminars are being held until October 17. Among these include basic business practices, organic soap and shampoo making, perfume and cologne making, meat processing, fashion accessory making, among others.

Felix Canimo, SBECO unit head said the program aims to help the cooperatives in the 13 districts of Quezon City. Some of these businesses could be junk shops, food and beverage stalls, agricultural and livestock shops, distribution networks, among others.

Canimo said residents of Quezon City must be given business opportunities, which should help not just the individual, but also the community. It also pays for having sustainable cooperatives that also contributes to the economy of the city.

“Cooperatives support a number of people and by doing so, they can improve their lives financially. It also adds to employment opportunities as well as new business ventures,” Canimo said.

He said that for a cooperative to qualify, members of a cooperative must already have an existing business. They must also have no existing debts and must pass a credit investigation. Usually, the amount that can be loaned is between P3,000 and P49,000, with a monthly interest of 1.5 percent to 3.5 percent.###

The SBECO is located at the 7th floor, Civic Center Building A, Quezon City Hall. They can be contacted at telephone numbers 444-7272 local 8731.

Three QC groups awarded with Labor Day’s Kabuhayan Awards

2010-06-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

THREE FLEDGLING community-based organizations of entrepreneurs made it to the Worktrep program and received the Dagdag Kabuhayan Awards of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) during the Labor Day celebration.

Becoming recipients of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) dubbed as the WorkTrep, the Samahan ng Manininda sa UP Campus Inc., the Barangay Escopa 3 Senior Citizens Association, and the Commonwealth West Micro-entrepreneurs Inc. received their Kabuhayan Awards for group enterprises that have proven potentials for noteworthy growth, including the capability to realize profitability to enhance workers’ income.

DOLE conferred Kabuhayan Awards on Labor Day as the nation observed the 108th Labor Day celebration. The DOLE bestowed the Kabuhayan Awards to outstanding individuals and groups that implemented DOLE-assisted livelihood projects known as the WorkTrep program. They collectively received a financial grant of more than a million pesos for the implementation of their business and financial plans.

The DOLE-Kabuhayan Awards aim to distinguish and showcase the best DOLE-assisted livelihood projects that were implemented during the last five years for priority groups of beneficiaries.

According to Samahan ng Manininda sa UP Campus president Edna Sinoy, their 100-strong association proven for more than 20 years their combined entrepreneurial character and became role models for aspiring entrepreneurs. The Samahan ng Manininda has become part of the UP community and participated yearly to Christmas bazaar in UP Diliman.

Commonwealth West Micro-entrepreneurs Inc. president Dolores Cabral added that with the DOLE financial grant, their business will enhance further. Ms. Cabral is so ascertain that with that kind of monetary assistance, striving to operate their business will surely augment their current level of income.

Selection for the DOLE Kabuhayan Awards was based on the following criteria: socio-economic viability, 10%; sustainable market, 30%; financial viability, 30%; sustainable production/efficient use of resources, 15%, and effective organization and management, 15%. The awarding ceremony took place on May 1, 2010 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

DOLE’s Worktrep program in Quezon City started last year aimed at assisting worker-entrepreneurs to tide over with the current economic condition. The program was facilitated by the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO). The Worktrep program was coordinated by Ex-Barangay Chairman Leonito Jumadiao and Officer-in-Charge Alfredo Bretaña Jr. ###

On Women’s month: Women and children’s health care remains a paramount priority for Quezon City

2010-04-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
March 15, 2010

While the national government is intending to close down 200 government hospitals nationwide, the Quezon City government is expecting to finish in May the P559.1 million medical center.

“Health care is alive and advancing in Quezon City. The restoration and modernization of the Quezon City General Hospital (QCGH) was one of Mayor Sonny Belmonte’s main projects to give poor residents access to a well equipped city-run hospital,” added Larraine Sarmiento, ex-Head of Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO), and former Convenor of the City’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF).

Sarmiento, who is running as a candidate for councilor of the City’s 4th District, said the QCGH’s new building will put up a 40-bed emergency room complex, a 26-bed intensive care unit and an 8-bed operating room, among others. The facility is located on a fraction of the 3.2-hectare QCGH compound in Barangay Bahay Toro.

Sarmiento added that the City will never abandon health care and maximizes preventive health care to have a detailed view of the affliction of women and children in the city, the most vulnerable of the city’s poor residents.

According to IBON Foundation which pegged national government spending on health at P6.60 per Filipino per day in 2009. National government’s budget cannot even sustain an ordinary affliction. In the 2010 Lower House budget deliberations revealed that the health department ranked only fifth in the list with a budget of P28.5 billion or more or less 2% of the total budget.

Aside from the QCGH, the city government is also completing the rehabilitation of another city-run hospital, the Novaliches District Hospital, which it plans to turn into a 60-bed facility this year. At last year’s City Development Council (CDC) meeting, the city also intends to built a hospital for its District 2 that will serve poor residents of Barangays Commonwealth, Batasan Hills, Holy Spirit, Payatas, among others.

Sarmiento surmised that we must build more hospitals and make accessible health care especially for poor residents of the city. Likewise, we must increase compensation for our health care practitioners so that they won’t seek greener pastures abroad.

Sarmiento projected to bring health of women and children as part of her platform in her candidacy for city councilor representing District 4. as part of her women agenda, it could bring major influence to local governance in advocating food security, regular jobs, equal opportunities for women, social services responding to the needs of women and children, consumer protection against soaring cost of basic goods and services, environmental protection, good governance, and protection of women and children against all forms of violence. ###

As household income decreases, more QC residents turn to preventive health care

2010-03-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

For immediate release
March 2, 2010

WITH DECLINING HOUSEHOLD incomes and consumption falling at 3.1% (1st Quarter, Y2009), one out of two poor Filipinos dies without receiving any medical attention, in a more than half of the population having no access to basic health care.

“Preventive health care became an instant reprieve, albeit temporary, for blighted communities in dire need of basic health care,” thus said Sikap Buhay head Dr. LaRainne Sarmiento during a preventive health care and wellness mission for Quezon City residents of National Stud Farm. The lots covering the farm straddle both Barangays UP Campus and Krus na Ligas.

Speaking before nearly 200 residents of Stud Farm, Sarmiento praised this kind of community-based preventive health care provide needed services filling the health-care gap that should have been addressed by authorities. Sarmiento acts as the convenor of the City’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF) that included the City Health Department.

According to IBON Foundation, an average of 1.8 percent national budget allocation since 2001, the Arroyo administration has allocated the smallest portion of the country’s budget for health services among all post-Marcos governments. Actual spending is even worse. In 2008 (latest available data), public spending for health comprised only 1.2 percent of total spending.

Sarmiento lamented that very little attention paid to health services gave no recourse to many poor Filipinos but rely on their own and practice basic preventive health care. Sun Life of Canada’s 2009 survey revealed that 76 percent of Filipinos are concerned about paying for health treatment and an overwhelming 85 percent rely on their own savings when they get sick. However, because of poverty, medical needs are largely not met. Official poverty statistics show that there are 27.6 million poor Filipinos or 32.9 percent of the total population.

Sarmiento further said that this is largely true and manifested in a dozen preventive health care and wellness missions undertaken by her office in different blighted areas of the city’s fourth district. Hence, she took note of the different afflictions and sickness evident in Barangays they have gone to, to wit:

Kamuning- Hypertension
Paligsahan- Hypertension
Valencia- Hypertension, Diabetes, Kidney, Gall bladder
San Vicente- Hypertension, Diabetes, Hypothyroid
Sikatuna Village- Hypertension, Diabetes
Santo Niño- Hypertension, Diabetes, Hypothyroid
Tatalon- Hypertension, Gall bladder
South Triangle- Hypertension, Gall bladder
UP Village- Hypertension, Diabetes
San Martin de Porres- Hypertension, Diabetes
Teachers Village West- Hypertension, Diabetes, Arthritis
UP Campus- Gall bladder, Kidney, Arthritis, Hypertension

Sarmiento likewise called on the City's leadership to hasten the construction of the city's healthcare facilities such as the Quezon City General Hospital to cater to the increasing number of disadvantaged citizens in dire need of medical assistance. As the city’s population continue to balloon, more health care services must be given especially to remote and blighted areas, above all, during times of emergency.

Sarmiento acclaimed Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and the city’s health department for coming up with a timely mobile health project, dubbed “health center on wheels” to put forward basic services to poor communities. At present, the city has about 60 health centers, seven of which are tagged as super health centers such as the Betty Go Belmonte Super Health Center servicing the poor populations of Culiat, Pasong Tamo, Old Balara and Holy Spirit. ###

A Loving Lola and a Persevering Girl, Beneficiaries of Wheel Chairs

2010-02-09T17:03:00.000-08:00

For immediate release
February 9, 2010

First day of this “Love Month” was a realism of philanthropic heart for Dr. LaRainne A. Sarmiento.

Two needing residents of Tatalon, Quezon City received on February 1, along with their families, a wheelchair each from Stearns Foundation thru the unrelenting effort of Dr. Sarmiento and friend Elsa Bayani.

Jireh Mae B. Tuliao, Grade 5 pupil of Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School was diagnosed three years ago to be suffering from cerebral palsy. Such is a condition caused by brain damage around the time of birth, marked by lack of muscle control.
By now, she could not stand up and walk, but is still as eager to pursue her education, as what any honorable, persevering, and grateful youth should be. This school year, her father, Cesar, sends and fetches her to school by either carrying her over his shoulders or rolling her seated over a bicycle.

Dr. LaRainne took notice of Jireh’s predicament that obliged all of her three elder brothers to temporarily quit their education, since the family’s financial resource was drained due to the expensive treatment of Jireh’s condition. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) proceedings alone, which should be periodically done only to monitor progress of cerebral palsy, costs around P15,000.00 per session. Her father’s meager income as a security guard could not sustain the expenses, more so for her rehabilitation treatments. Jireh’s mother, Lilibeth is now an Overseas Filipino Worker who was prompted to work away from her daughter, to earn additional income for her medication.

On the other hand, Esperanza A. Carreon, 85 years old, is almost bed-ridden. Her only wish was just to regularly feel the warmth of daily sunrise. At her old age, she could not see, let alone walk unassisted. With a sharp mind, Esperanza still contemplates upon paying visits to her children who settled down away from Quezon City.

To Jireh and Esperanza, being awarded a wheelchair means extending the bounds of their world and empowering them to move further ahead, amidst the challenges of their physical limitations. Their smiles upon experiencing the comfort of mobility in a wheel chair, serve to inspire Dr. Sarmiento to be of further service. And such arouse hope among the witnesses to be as persevering and good willed.

Dr. Sarmiento, was more than honored to be instrumental in bringing them joy and comfort. Although this humble kind of service is just in a days work for her, this reflected efficient response in making philanthropic effort be addressed to the more needing constituents.

Effective public service should not be limited to “spoon-fed” type of aids, but more so with harnessing and equipping individual capabilities. To Jireh, and Esperanza, their new wheel chairs are more than a step forward in living life fuller. Dr. LaRainne A. Sarmiento is aspiring to replicate such philanthropic deed thru more partnerships with respectable NGO’s and associations, to sustain response to varying needs of our citizenry.#

OPTICAL MISSION, FEEDING, SET OFF IN BARANGAY PINYAHAN

2010-02-01T05:05:00.000-08:00

January 24, 2010

Dr. LaRainne A. Sarmiento spearheaded an Optical Mission on January 24, 2010, for needy residents of NIA Road in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City. In line with her Serbisyong Pangkalusugan, a Health and Wellness advocacy, Dr. Sarmiento distributed appropriate reading eyeglasses to more than 100 males and females with visual reading difficulties, aged 25 years old and above.

The mission took place among barangay residents who lined-up early in appreciation of this effort. Their eyes were diagnosed and rendered corresponding eyeglasses to suit their reading performance.

In her inspiring message, Dr. LaRainne, the head of Quezon City's Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO), encouraged the barangay folks to to promote healthy lifestyle through adequate and right food and water intake, regular physical exercise, adequate sleep and rest, moderation of, if not abstinence from smoking and liquors.

She also stressed the importance of breastfeeding for newly born, and that proper nutrition need not be so expensive most especially if incorporated with malungay, the miracle food, from time to time.

While the mission was ongoing, Dr. Sarmiento took time to chat with community residents to directly get feedback on what further needs could possibly be provided through the Sikap Buhay program for business capital loans and entrepreneurship training.

So cordial, many residents took to the streets to welcome and witness the event. This noble activity was initiated in coordination with the Alpha Kappa Rho (AKRHO) International Humanitarian Service Fraternity and Sorority, along with the East Triangle Neighborhood Association (ETNA). Mission participants were treated to sumptuous snacks by AKRHO. Dr. LaRainne was hopeful that similar if not more intensive relevant mission as this could be done in the future. #

Ondoy Onslaught Prompts Sikap Buhay to Relief Work

2009-09-30T05:04:00.001-07:00

For immediate release
September 30, 2009

The metropolis suffered its greatest natural calamity in 40 years, triggering flash floods in greater volume, not exempting even areas high enough to withstand floods. The recent onslaught of Typhoon Ondoy brought to us right before our eyes the
nature’s fury make happened by climate change.

Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) head LaRainne Sarmiento calls on Quezon City’s kindhearted to help those in dire need, specially in blighted areas hardest hit by Ondoy’s assault-- Barangays Tatalon, Roxas, Doña Imelda, Damayang Lagi, Old Capitol Site, Mariana, San Vicente, Santa Lucia and Bagong Silangan to name a few.

“We asked our volunteers who quickly organized themselves into Kaagapay at Lingap sa Salanta (kLS) who are victims themselves in these areas and shared to us their immediate needs—cooked food, clothing, beddings, and potable water. We responded to the immediate requests of our poor brothers and sisters in these communities. Food relief were not sufficient to meet their increasing need. Hence, we call on our fellow countrymen, here and abroad, to donate your spare,” said LaRainne Sarmiento, also the convenor of Quezon City’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF).

Sarmiento added that our archipelagic country is exposed to natural hazards in the form of typhoons and floods, flashfloods, landslides and volcanic eruptions. She said that our barangays should put in place effective disaster preparedness systems for hazard mitigation. Avoidance of these hazards must be given full attention. Part of these include prevention of disasters, solutions to root causes, safety net against these inescapable dangers and establishing workable emergency plans.

Sikap Buhay organized community kitchens Bayanihan-style benefiting more than 350 residents at Barangays Old Capitol Site, and Mariana and partake in a meal planning and food preparation in evacuation centers. Munggo and nutritious Malunggay are served targeting 127 affected households in Barangay Old Capitol Site alone. Affected resident Rosie Quibial said the communal kitchen is apt and timely for the night’s dinner for empty kids’ tummies. Quibial said it is gratifying to see barangay officials of Old Capitol Site and affected residents working hand-in-hand to mitigate miseries brought about by the Ondoy calamity. Also, a clothing drive were given to Barangay Doña Imelda residents along Kapiligan Street.

Earlier, Sikap Buhay’s Kaagapay at Lingap sa Salanta (kLS) provided food relief to 150 Barangay Roxas affected residents and to the 50 fire victims at Barangay Tatalon. Twenty two (22) families were evacuated to the Manuel Roxas High School (MRHS). The Barangay Council of Roxas were among those who quickly responded to their constituents’ needs.

Sarmiento added that this will always be a wake-up call to all of us, our poor country being the least prepared for storms. With 36 million people, living on less than two dollars a day and with only one doctor for every 1,700 people, the blow of major disasters on the Philippines will become more overwhelming.

Sarmiento surmised that our good governance advocacy should now be more responsive to services like disaster mitigation measures. ###

(photo courtesy of noy natividad)

Number of Elderly swells in Quezon City, needy of wellness programs

2009-09-01T14:27:00.001-07:00

For immediate release
September 2, 2009

MORE THAN A HUNDRED members of Barangay South Triangle’s seniors and elderly enjoyed the health and wellness education and service program last month.

The 4th District of Quezon City (QC) hosts to the city’s 3rd largest elderly population numbering almost 19,000. Their increasing population continues to be a top concern of QC poverty mitigation program. This remains to be a commitment of the city government even if 1/3 of the city’s population are youth.

Spearheaded by Kagawad Joselito Allyson Perez as a birthday offering to his constituents, the mission was an effective preventive health care program for senior citizens. This mission was undertaken with the help of Dynapharm’s accupoint diagnostics and the city’s Sikap Buhay office headed by LaRainne Sarmiento.

“We put to practice QC’s pride as health and wellness capital of the country. With 18 government-run and 43 privately-owned hospitals, 59 health centers, as well as 894 health and wellness facilities, these centers of healing could only be more effective by bringing services right in the elderly’s doorsteps,” said LaRainne Sarmiento, convenor of QC’s Anti-Poverty Task Force.

The task force noted the increasing number of people 60 years old and above, could be attributed to rising life expectancy, and great advances in science enhancing health and nutrition among elderly.

National Statistics Office (NSO) projected the number of elderly will swell in the next three decades. From 6.1% in 2005 at 5.3 million, the percentage is expected to reach 13.8% by the year 2040 at around 19.6 million nationwide. ###

Malunggay an attraction at Kabuhayan Fiesta

2009-09-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
September 2, 2009

CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, youth, women, and their families all over Quezon City (QC) met service providers in Barangay Paligsahan’s deaf-friendly Roces Avenue and interacted to gain innovative economic opportunities for special young people.

Dubbed as “Kabuhayan Fiesta: Maglingkod, Magsaya, Mamili, Makibahagi”, this distinct daylong event became a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for special children to interact with their fellow special kids. Nearly 3,000 persons gathered at the affair and became a mobilization arena for social entrepreneurs selling nutritious foods and other organic products like buns, biscuits, and drinks with wonder veggie Malunggay as the main component.

“We intend to create public awareness on the situation of PWD’s (persons with disabilities particularly the deaf) and harness their potentials; strengthen advocacy generating friendly environment; and enhance further various social enterprise initiatives from participating businesses,” said LaRainne Sarmiento, Quezon City government’s Sikap Buhay head, and one of the event’s co-organizers. Sarmiento also convenes QC’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force.

Kabuhayan Fiesta was a joint undertaking of the Quezon City government through the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO), Barangay Paligsahan, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) QC Field Office, Steam Foundation, Help Work Inc, and Jollibee Roces Branch.

It was also supported by Don A. Roces Sr Science and Technology High School, DARSSTHS Teachers Cooperative, General Roxas Elementary School, Special Education Educators Association QC (SPEDEA), Vgrafiks Design and Consultancy.

Roces Avenue became a center of business and social activities for persons with disabilities (PWD’s) with booths highlighting products, business opportunities seminars, awarding of PWD-friendly establishments, games, exhibits, paintings, singing and dancing featuring PWD’s, and sign language tutorial.

Sarmiento added that the Quezon City government taps into homegrown resources in an effort to overcome nutritional dearth among schoolchildren, including special children. The special kid’s welfare is also a priority of the city’s anti-poverty agenda.

According to QC’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force, planting malunggay trees will turn to huge savings for the families, especially those in dire need. This wonder veggie is the focus of interest in many researches due to its nutritional benefits and its resourcefulness as a plant. Scientists peddle it as the ‘miracle vegetable’ because of the many diseases it can cure. Malunggay is known to cure beriberi, which is caused by deficiency in Vitamin B1.

Malunggay originated in India and is widely consumed in the Indian subcontinent, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia. Its many uses include cropping, animal feeds and are tapped for biogas and diesel production. It is used as a domestic cleaning agent and fertilizer. Its leaves are an outstanding source of Vitamins A, B1, and C, Calcium, Potassium, and Iron.

QC’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force Nutrition Program seeks to supply the nutritional needs of children in public schools. The “Halamanan sa Bakuran” Project was launched last year to promote food security in schools and communities. Alongside malunggay, the task force also had been providing supplemental feeding of full-cream choco milk, iron-fortified noodles and biscuits to the city’s day care, elementary schools, and even high schools.

Likewise, Sarmiento said that this rare event is hoping to commence the appreciation for the full implementation of the Republic Act 9442, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons that will help develop equal opportunities for special youth, women, and their families. ###

Vibrant youth should lead our nation to the path of change

2009-07-27T08:49:00.001-07:00

For immediate release
July 23, 2009

SPEAKING BEFORE MEMBERS of the Makabayan Youth Organization in Barangay Obrero, Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office head LaRainne Sarmiento pushed youth of Barangay Obrero to do meaningful deeds that will change their lives for success in the future.

“You are standing right now in a barangay meant as a habitat for the lowly workers comprising majority of Quezon City’s populace. The number of jobless Filipinos ballooned to 4.1 million in 2008 and will likely rise to some 5 million this year. The youth must reverse this thru gainful employment, worthy livelihood that will develop our country to leaps and bounds,” added Sarmiento, also the convenor of the city’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF)

According to think-tank Ibon Foundation, the number of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos could then rise to at least 11 to 12 million in 2009. The nation’s growth
has dropped steeply from 7.2% GDP growth in 2007, to 4.6% in 2008 and will likely be less than 3% this year.

LaRainne Sarmiento bewailed that with huge unemployment, swarming the city are out-of-school youth and children roaming streets prone to the pitfalls of malnutrition, easy money, gambling, drugs, and prostitution. Year 2000 data of Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed that there are 250,000 children wandering the streets across the country.

A former Barangay Captain of Doña Aurora of QC’s District 4, LaRainne added that everyday, these youth and kids are in the danger of their social environment that challenges their competence to live in the midst of extreme poverty. Shaped by time, chance and their environs, they used every means to keep alive, health and nutrition are at great stake.

As a way to the path of changing our blighted communities, concerned youth must lead and take an active part to a multi-entity partnership of addressing these problems. So far, the city government through the APITF, has holistically hit these problems through heightened support for child nutrition, health, basic and alternative education and livelihood programs in order to face the problems head-on. “Ang pangangalaga sa kapakanan ng mga bata at kabataan tulad ng pagbibigay ng karampatang pagkakataon upang sila ay mamuhay nang maayos ay makakatulong sa katagalan sa ating komunidad at bansa tungo sa makabuluhang pagbabago,” Sarmiento ended. ###

Senior citizens’ nutrition remains a top priority of QC’s anti-poverty agenda

2009-07-18T17:18:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
July 15, 2009

THE GROWING ELDERLY POPULATION continues to be a top main concern of Quezon City’s (QC) poverty mitigation measures. This remains to be a commitment of the city government even if 1/3 of the city’s population are youth.

In a forum organized by the South Triangle Senior Citizens Association in Barangay South Triangle, QC’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF) covenor LaRainne Sarmiento conveyed that the increasing number of people 60 years old and above, could be attributed to rising life expectancy, and great advances in science enhancing health and nutrition among elderly.

National Statistics Office (NSO) projection revealed, the number of elderly will swell in the next three decades. From 6.1% in 2005 at 5.3 million, the proportion is expected to reach 13.8% by the year 2040 at around 19.6 million nationwide.

LaRainne, who also heads QC’s Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO), urged Barangay South Triangle’s elderly to be deeply concerned for their healthy well-being through proper nutrition, exercise, and healthful simple lifestyle. Alongside, LaRainne reiterated the city’s commitment to better services responding to the elderly’s needs.

LaRainne cautioned the elderly to be watchful for malnutrition, anemia, decreased appetite, and physical inactivity. Frightening is the complications due to the prevalence of influenza A(H1N1) that could strike children and even elderly people in poor communities.

Aside from the city’s better services particularly making health centers accessible to poor patients, LaRainne encouraged Barangay South Triangle’s elderly to sustain preparing foods using wonder veggie Malunggay and make it part of their daily food consumption. The said not too pricey leafy vegetable is very rich in Vitamin C, greater than the vitamin content of an orange juice. ###

Sikap Buhay’s Jobs Fair & Wellness Mission Brought to Barangay UP Campus’ Poor

2009-06-26T07:05:00.001-07:00

For immediate release
June 26, 2009

STILL CLAD IN THEIR HOMELY GET-UPS, poor residents of Barangay UP Campus lined up to fill bio-data and took part in the pre-selection process of a mini-job fair organized by the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), both under Quezon City’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF), together with Select Manpower Resources Inc, and TransConnect Manpower Agency.

After serving residents of Barangay Pinyahan, this mini-job fair, a preventive health care mission was part of the activity to know the health conditions directly.

“The strategy of bringing barangay-based mini-job fairs along with preventive health care mission is mindful of the severity of the global financial crisis to the jobless poor and the newly-displaced workers in these trying times. This is a small but noble mitigation measure aimed to reach greater number of jobless poor in the quickest mode possible,” said Sikap Buhay head and APITF convenor Larainne Sarmiento.

According to think-tank Ibon Foundation, the nation’s growth has dropped steeply from 7.2% GDP growth in 2007, to 4.6% in 2008 and will likely be less than 3% this year. The real number of jobless Filipinos increased to 4.1 million in 2008 and will likely rise to some 5 million this year. The number of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos could then rise to at least 11 to 12 million in 2009.

Among the applicants who’s trying his luck is ex-OFW from Saudi Arabia Sammy Esma, 29 years old. Esma of Pook Libis, filled up a form hoping to find a salesman job in Kuwait, eager to join his wife there working in a restaurant. Esma is striving his chance for the second time to save for his three-year old son’s future. He bemoaned that working as a waiter in a five-star hotel is no longer sufficient nowadays.

Larainne also said that those who will not make to job interviews will undergo re-skilling and other livelihood trainings available. “Kung di ka palarin sa interview mo, marahil sa negosyo ang asenso mo! Lahat sasagana, ‘pag nagsikap buhay tayo!” said Larainne, reminded of successful opportunity-seizing micro-entrepreneurs who make it big through sheer hard work, prudent lifestyle, and strong grab to values of savings. ###

Global Women’s Health Day observed with calls for more women’s access to health care

2009-06-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
June 4, 2009

SPEAKING BEFORE 200 FORUM participants coming from women’s groups and foreign friends in District 4’s largest barangay, Quezon City’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force convenor Larainne Sarmiento called on fellow women in Barangay Tatalon to continue awareness-raising on women’s health and make it more accessible to those who have less in life.

“The Quezon City government is the first local government unit (LGU) in Metro Manila that upholds the rights of women to reproductive health through the city council’s promulgation of reproductive health ordinance,” said Larainne Sarmiento, also the head of Quezon City’s Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO).

Larainne also said before members of GABRIELA and other community groups that women’s right to health care must be fully upheld by state institutions. “Emergency health care remains to be scarce to women in blighted areas and laws espousing women’s health care will only come to fruition if issues like maternal mortality, morbidity, and birthing to child and women’s wellness are dealt with,” added Larainne.

With exorbitant hospital fees and pricey health care, women organizers said that it is no wonder 11 women die each day due to complications in childbirth, in a country where up to four mothers have to share a hospital bed, only 56% of births administered by a skilled medical attendant, only 59% receive postpartum care, and information and education of women regarding health and pregnancy remain greatly wanting.

During the 1987 members’ meeting of the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) in Costa Rica, 28th of May was acknowledged the International Day of Action for Women's Health. It has since become widely known and fêted around the world by women’s and health groups.

Larainne Sarmiento stresses that besides a substantial budget allocation for family planning, effective parenting education, the Quezon City Health Department is negotiating the purchase of sonogram equipment for breast lump examination. ###

Sikap Buhay Spearheads Seeking Jobseekers; QC Brings Job Fairs to Poor’s Doorsteps

2009-05-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
May 8, 2009

THE ONLSLAUGHT OF GLOBAL economic meltdown requires measures giving immediate relief to unemployed and laid-off workers. Unemployment data from the January 2009 Labor Force Survey showes the trend towards greater joblessness estimated to reach 2.9 million jobless Filipinos.

The Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), both under Quezon City’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF), together with Select Manpower Resources Inc. will bring jobs to QC’s poor by organizing job fairs in QC’s barangays- Pinyahan, UP Campus, and other big barangays.

“We are bringing series of barangay-based job fairs bearing in mind the current status of the marginalized and the most prone sectors in these crisis times, we will woo residents of barangays’ blighted areas by information campaigns, street-mapping and house-hopping,” said Sikap Buhay head and APITF convenor Larainne Sarmiento.

While immediate relief and recovery seems to be the current tune these days, Larainne said that we seek jobseekers specially those in dire need like the young newly-graduates and former OFWs. She also said that they intend to address job mismatch, organize data basing, and broadening reach to jobseekers who cannot afford to leave their daily household chores to go to malls’ job fairs and call centers’ head offices.

“Our country is facing its severest test with greater joblessness in the coming months, and the worst is yet to come especially with piecemeal response to severe unemployment,” lamented Larainne.

Those who will not make it beyond job interviews or discouraged jobseekers will surely be rosy to take other livelihood skills trainings available. “Kung di ka palarin sa job interview mo, marahil sa negosyo ang asenso mo! ” said Larainne, reminded of those opportunity-seizing micro-entrepreneurs who make it big and continues optimum gains through sheer hard work, prudent lifestyle, and strong grip to values of savings. ###

Green Entrepreneurship, Anyone?

2009-05-10T19:27:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
May 07, 2009

The onset of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in 2001 required every household and business establishment to segregate its garbage to biodegradables (kitchen and garden wastes) and non-biodegradables right in every home or business establishment.

The implementation of this law stipulates the necessity of setting-up a solid waste management system. It also provides opportunities for business for solid waste processing.

The recent widely-observed Earth Hour commemoration last April 2009, brought again to our awareness that global warming is basically due to the excessive carbon and greenhouse gas emissions that can be prevented by, among many other things, recycling trash.

“So before throwing anything to the trash bin, think again. What you are about to toss away may have some value. Previously overlooked by many and scorned by some, junkshops are now found everywhere. Like any opportunity-seizing enterprising people, there is a growing number of micro-entrepreneurs who see money out of wastes,” said Larainne Sarmiento, head of Quezon City’s Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO).

Larainne couldn’t hide her admiration and praise to the green entrepreneurs proliferating one after the other in many barangays in Quezon City. Among them are: junkshop owner Nicanor Tabor of Barangay Pinyahan, and bag maker Angelita Ronquillo of Barangay Commonwealth.

Larainne Sarmiento, who also convenes QC’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF) believes too much consumerism is responsible for our being wasteful. She said that according to an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study on the Philippines, in most of our urban centers, garbage is dumped on the streets. Some are openly burned.

The metropolis generates about 6,700 tons of garbage per day, and hardly ten (10) percent is recycled or composted. In QC, waste generated per person averages 66 kg/day totaling 1,768.44 tons/day as of December 2007.

Before fashion icons were bitten by the environment bugs, entrepreneurial mothers like Angelita Ronquillo, make fashionable bags out of recycled newspaper and display items out of old phone directories, respectively,” Larainne quipped.

Simply branded “Bags4Life”, this 57-year old mother of eight never run out of new bag designs which she simply see out of combinations of different leather bag designs from old international fashion magazines.

Ronquillo started her bags4life line in 2007 with P5,000 start-up capital, she shifted from a failed sari-sari store business. She gets gross sales of P700 a day by selling two to three pieces of bags daily. Ronquillo is a regular fixture in bazaars and product exhibitions in Kamuning and Commonwealth markets, and in Quezon City Hall. Last year’s product exhbition of Sikap Buhay paved the way for 500 pieces of orders from a Fil-Am businesswoman.

Another green entrepreneur is retired Airforce Sergeant Nicanor Tabor who wanted to make it big in junkshop and hopefully in the recycling business. This 49-year old father of three started his junkshop business in 2004 right in his home by buying old white and assorted papers with a start-up capital of P3,000. He is now in full-blast with the business using P20,000 capital and buying 11 kinds of items from smaller cart-pushing scrapbuyers.

Tabor employes two (2) men who make weekly deliveries through his newly-bought 4-tonner truck to exporters in Valenzuela and Mandaluyong who buy his five items of recyclables. With dwindling prices of scrap materials due to the global economic crisis, this Catanduanes native is bullish and wants to open more junkshops within QC in the next five years.

Larainne said that Tabor’s junkshop business sent his three kids to college. The Solid Waste Management Law opened his enterprising eyes and seized an opportunity for business. With proper segregation practice and cleanliness, there is indeed, cash from trash.

With this, Larainne surmised, “if you’re not recycling, you’re throwing.” ###

Microfinance Clients Call on Citizens in Crisis Times: "MagSikap Buhay Tayo!"

2009-05-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
May 4, 2009

NEARLY 400 CLIENTS OF microfinance conduits forged in an assembly to continue the mantra of Magsikap Buhay Tayo! by building leadership capacities, strengthening economic self-reliance among the enterprising poor, and continuously seek institutional support and services from academe, business, and government for the sector’s emp[owerment.

Puhunang Pangkaunlaran ng Sikap Buhay (PPSB) member-clients from Barangays Tatalon, Central, Damayang Lagi, San Martin de Porres, San Vicente, Pinyahan, Mariana, Horseshoe, Doña Aurora, UP Campus, Kaunlaran, Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Doña Imelda, Roxas, Kalusugan, South Triangle, Malaya, and Old Capitol Site convened in a general assembly called by the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO).

Curtain sewer Rosita Abao of Barangay Central cited the assembly as a venue for fellow enterprising women with the same business lines. She and her group committed to share creative skills, distribute prospective clients, and explore forming an association.

Clients from conduits—Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan (CRBB), ASA Philippines Foundation, Center for Community Transformation (CCT), and UPLIFT Philippines Inc. vowed in the assembly to continue the ideals and the aspirations of Sikap Buhay in their own collective capabilities through conducting capacity enhancing leadership training programs, equipping skills other than their existing business lines, developing attitudes through values education favorable for community enterprises’ growth.

“Sikap Buhay considers these successful small entrepreneurs similar to a gold miner for their continuing patronage of our programs and services. These persevering, risk-taking, enterprising, and opportunity-seizing people now totaling more than 51,000 form part of QC’s Puhunang Pangkaunlaran ng Sikap Buhay (PPSB). They agreed to continue Magsikap Buhay Tayo! as a movement of barangay-based micro-entrepreneurs,” said Sikap Buhay head Dr. La Rainne A. Sarmiento.

With microfinance loan lent totaling P776, 902, 750 million and supplemented with leadership and skills trainings boosting their micro-businesses, Dr. Sarmiento said that these businesses are itself gold mines that continue to help mitigate poverty in QC’s blighted communities.

Microfinance clients way back in 2002 attended the assembly and were very thankful that the Sikap Buhay was formed to help Quezon City’s micro and small entrepreneurs. Sari-sari stores, beauty parlors, eateries, apparel direct selling, internet shop, rug making, tailoring, e-load station, cell phone accessories, burger stand, vegetable/fruit cart, fish and meat, kakanin, and school supplies entrepreneurs came to the assembly in full force.

Ready-to-wear (RTW) direct seller Gisela Pons of Barangay Kaunlaran seeks for the unhampered continuation of Sikap Buhay’s programs services and wanted it to multiply to reach her friends and neighbors. Pons said that she was thoroughly gratified that she was able to expand as a tricycle operator and beauty parlor owner. Sari-sari store owner Juliet Nicdao of Barangay Horseshoe can only say in unison to Pons. Nicdao hoped that other government leaders can be the same by channeling their resources to poverty mitigation.

Guests from other countries belonging to the Participatory Research in Asia joined and observed the assembly. Other guests include LGU representatives from the towns of Daraga, Albay and Catigbian, Bohol and NGO representatives for Center for Participatory Governance, and Citizen’s League for Electoral Action and Reforms. ###

Dr. La Rainne Sarmiento, 2 Other QC Leaders, Received 3rd Bayi Citation

2009-05-10T19:23:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
May 4, 2009

CITED FOR HER BREAKTHROUGH engagements as a feminist leader in the women’s movement and local governance, Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) head Dr. La Rainne A. Sarmiento was awarded a Bayi Citation at the historic Club Filipino in San Juan City.

Along with Bagumbuhay Punong Barangay Raulito Datiles and ex-kagawad of Barangay Pasong Putik Proper Fatima Cabanag, Dr. Sarmiento, also the convenor of Quezon City’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF), was distinctly recognized for being “significantly instrumental in developing an innovative social technology that mobilized resources of microfinance institutions for helping poor women and urban poor communities to develop sources of livelihood,” according to Bayi Citation proponents, the Institute of Politics and Governance and the Barangay-Bayan Governance Consortium.

The 3rd Bayi Citation is fully supported by the One World Action and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

Co-awardee ex-Kagawad Cabanag is acknowledged by the 3rd Bayi Citation as a selfless community leader “for having fearlessly fought for the rights and welfare of the Maligaya Park dwellers and other urban poor communities to land and housing.”

Special Bayi citation was given to Bagumbuhay Barangay Chairman Datiles for his model ecological solid waste management program. He was bestowed with the special citation due to “funds/income generated from the waste management project is used to provide services to the community, such as day care centers, cheap/free medicines, etc.”

Datiles shared that one need not be hungry in Barangay Bagumbuhay if he/she collect recyclables and transform it into rewards like canned goods, school supplies, or even cash.

Datiles co-awardees in the special citation include: former Senator Juan Flavier for being the champion of reproductive health and institutional reforms during his stint as Department of Health (DOH) Secretary; Q channel 11 for its meaningful empowering programs for women like Draw the Line; and Alvin Dizon for his pioneering work in Barangay Luz in Cebu City in mobilizing people and women’s participation in local governance. His barangay become a model of good governance that put urban poor agenda on top of the development agenda of the Barangay.

Dr. Sarmiento’s prominent co- awardees include: former President Cory Aquino for sharing the power of the presidency which opened up to decentralization widening women’s political participation at the local level; Commissioner Atty. Leila De Lima for keeping her promise to end what she calls “institutional cowardice” of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR); Marikina Mayor Marides Fernando for having the best planning and budgeting practice in the field of gender and development (GAD).

Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB, for being the pioneer of women’s studies in the Philippines and institutional women’s studies and programs; young Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist Patricia Evangelista for choosing to write and talk about issues which are controversial but highly relevant to women and the Filipino people; indigenous women community leader and peace advocate Zenaida Pawid for her undying, selfless and non-parochial commitment to the rights and issues of indigenous peoples.

Two other QC residents were awarded: cultural icon and native music pioneer Susan Fernandez was awarded for being the champion of the cause of Filipino culture and music. Her full and sweet voice makes her socially relevant songs including the feminist anthem and Metropop winner Babae Ka!; UP Center for Women’s Studies Director Dr. Sylvia Estrada-Claudio for having published a formidable quantity of scholarly work principally relating to issues of women and gender. For holding a psychological clinic for women survivors of violence.

Other co-awardees include Barangay Luz Cebu City Punong Barangay Nida Cabrera and Cebu NGO leader Gwen Ngolaban.

In her acceptance speech, Dr. Sarmiento said she was sharing the award with Mayor Sonny Belmonte Jr, who led the establishment of the City’s Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) in 2001, for which the award was given.

She stressed that in addition to the economic empowerment that the program bestowed to enterprising poor women, expanding their social network, developing their self-confidence and self-esteem, and building their leadership capacities are the other social impact it brought about.

Dr. Sarmiento felt deeply privileged to be among eminent women leaders who are renowned for their exemplary roles to fellow women, their communities, and their country. ###

QC gave medals and certificates to most entrepreneurial students

2009-05-10T19:16:00.000-07:00

April 23, 2009
For immediate release

DURING THE SEASON of graduation among high schools, the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) gave medals to all levels entrepreneurial high school students in Quezon City.

The Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) awarded among distinguished students of Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) subject and handed honor to entrepreneurial students in nine (9) high schools, namely: Camp Crame High School, Carlos Albert High School, Dr. Josefa Jara Martinez Vocational High School, Don A. Roces Sr. Science and Technology High School, Flora Ylagan High School, Krus na Ligas High School, Manuel Roxas High School, Ponciano Bernardo High School, and Ramon Magsaysay High School (Cubao).

“We gave recognition to high school students, particularly who excel in their respective TLE classes and took it with great passion,” said Dr. LaRainne A. Sarmiento, head of Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO).

Krus na Ligas High School students Maria Lynn Robisco and Ana Mae Abelardo sell pastillas and balot to finance their studies and save for their college tuition. Ana Mae wanted to be assured of becoming a teacher someday because she says life’s getting harder. “Selling balot is the only way I know to finish my studies, my education is my only guarantee for the future,” Abelardo stressed.

On the other hand, Robisco said that she’s the only hope of her nine siblings back home in impoverished Sibuyan, Romblon. Her strong will to finish her high school studies brought her to Manila, and lived with parent’s kababayans. Selling pastillas assured her tuition fees for the next few months.

Dr. Sarmiento, who also convenes the QC Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF), lauded these most entrepreneurial students for bringing to the fore their affection to their parents and their family by helping them economically.

Cosmetology National Skills Competition winner Yvette Adrienne Tuazon earned 100 to 200 pesos per day and generated loyal customers because of her distinguished award. This student of Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science and Technology High School dreamed of having her own spacious and well-known beauty parlor.

Carlos Albert High School 18-year old student Kenneth Paul Martin started repairing cell phone units coming from the low-end. As he picked up the skills, he began refurbishing the high-end brands and turned over his earnings to his parents. He dreamed of becoming an electrical engineer someday.

Dr. Sarmiento praised these most entrepreneurial students for being economically-driven at a very young age. She is hopeful it will advance them beyond and make their minds to pursue further studies and put their practical entrepreneurial learning to a new and higher level.

“These striving entrepreneurial students possess the values that will drive their communities to move forward. These are the kind of would-be leaders needed by our nation and bring relief amidst economic crisis,” added Dr. Sarmiento.

Moving further, the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) will conduct a business idea contest among youth called the YouthBIZ Challenge. Alongside physically-strenuous barangay sports fests, the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) offer another alternative for the youth this summer and take them away from vices besetting the young lately.

Co-sponsored with the City’s Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation, the YouthBIZ Challenge will draw three (3) to five (5) youth to group together and formulate an entrepreneurial business plan that is creative and a novelty for their respective barangay. Deadline of submission of entries is on May 29, 2009.

Dr. Sarmiento is encouraging all action-oriented youth to join the contest specially those who are creatively driven, thinking positively, and who have the passion to advance economically. “They must take the YouthBIZ Challenge!” ###

Urban aquaculture is viable as an anti-poverty measure

2009-04-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
March 5, 2009
Contact: Sikap Buhay ECO, Tel# 924-6313

POOR RESIDENTS of Quezon City recently discovered Pangasius fish raising, known as Dory fish among restaurants, is viable for backyard aquaculture both for consumption and livelihood generation.

According to Barangay Roxas resident Apolinar Lavares Jr, nurturing Pangasius fish is feasible with a continuous supply of livable water quality. “I endured the burden of storing volumes of water even with my frail body just to prove to myself and to my fellow residents that raising Pangasius is possible even in an urban setting,” said Lavares, who works as an insurance salesman.

Likewise, Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF) convenor Dr. LaRainne A. Sarmiento said that Lavares and his other fellow fish growers could become trainers and nurturers themselves as breeders of good news of urban aquaculture for poor residents. Dr. Sarmiento is also the head of QC’s Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO).

Lavares is one of the top performing fish growers awarded with honors during a culmination activity after the three-month pilot project. He claimed that as a fish grower, he learned a lot about the fish character even with little resources but with big support from his Punong Barangay, the Quezon City government, and concerned national agencies like the Bureau of Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Dr. Sarmiento also said that Quezon City is a unique location for fish growing as food consumption and possible livelihood given its character of resilient poor residents striving to live through effective and feasible entrepreneurship in the midst of the global economic meltdown. According to her, being resilient and committed are needed to spread fish growing in the city and further expand it to entrepreneurship.

Aside from Barangay Roxas, fish growers from Barangays Paligsahan, Sacred Heart, Obrero, South Triangle, Damayang Lagi, and Batasan Hills finished the pilot project with flying colors and received awards honoring their hard work in implementing the pilot project.

Fish growers suddenly encountered weather change last February and threatened fish survival. But this did not lessen their will and determination to continue fish growing as an income generating measure.

Dr. Sarmiento thanked all project proponents like BFAR, Vitarich, for their untiring and unselfish support and continuing assistance by its technicians in making the pilot project a success. She showed appreciation as well for their readiness to support the project in its second phase.

The three-month project was also supported by Vitarich Corporation, Angelito Club Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and the A and L Fishponds and Hatchery, Inc. Special Projects Team Leader Kagawad Arnel Dayto showed sincerest gratitude to these private entities for coming up with a guide mechanism on urban aquaculture and entrepreneurship. ###

Youth entrepreneurship can be a tool for change

2009-04-22T07:31:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
February 17, 2009

Being youth also means being active. Being active takes you to a certain cause. Vibrant youth spent their time malling, chatting at the internet, interacting with friends, watching movies, updating their Friendster or Myspace site, and the like.

“Social networking sites owned by idealistic youth can be extended to promote entrepreneurs’ products. With millions of Filipino youth joining Friendster and Myspace, youth can promote their parent’s products and help augment their family income. Rather than making a so and so updating of their site, they are now taking a second look, and maximizing it for worthy causes, albeit, the online way,” said Sikap Buhay head Dr. LaRainne A. Sarmiento.

Dr. Sarmiento said during a youth entrepreneurship seminar among students of Manuel Roxas High School that the youth fully optimize the unlimited texting offered by the mobile networks as similar to words-of-mouth marketing. Digital media has emerged and become a part of their everyday life.

“They thirst for new information, longing to know what’s cool and what’s not, sowing product description within social networks can be done by youth and can work for our entrepreneurial clients. They can be productive and be out there volunteering, and getting caught up like never before. Becoming an idealistic generation can stir the previous generation and change in a society,” added Dr. Sarmiento.

Dr. Sarmiento reminded high school students not to forego their college education by engaging in not so productive vices. Instead, they should maximize their spare time during the summer months with entrepreneurial ventures, save enough for tuition fees, and help their parents sustain their college education. Through this, they introduced to relevant values education. The future is in their hands and they can sustain the kind of energy, give focus to their family’s future, and build their communities.

Social networking sites are great tools in reaching overseas relatives, long lost friends, and yes, one’s target business market. By participating, entrepreneurs can forge relationships, connect and engage their internet audiences to introduce their products and achieve their goals.

Throngs of young and energized Americans mobilized themselves and worked to make history and made Barrack Obama became the 44th president of the United States. Similar things can also take place in the Philippines. Youths can become advocates and forge bonds and higher levels of involvement – active, vocal, proud, informed. ###

QC adopts DOST’s new technologies as anti-poverty measures amidst crisis

2009-04-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
February 16, 2009

Reference: Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office, Tel# 924-6313

“In fighting poverty and in times of economic crisis, we resort to entrepreneurship to tide with the times. We generate a product hoping it would sell and come up with more items to produce. But we also harness newer but cost-effective appropriate technologies to enhance our products and make it competitive”

These are the words shared by the Quezon City Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force convenor, Dr. LaRainne A. Sarmiento during a technology-based entrepreneurship forum organized with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-NCR).

Gracing the entrepreneurs forum, DOST-NCR Regional Director Teresita Fortuna said that new technologies and equipments are available at DOST to complement and improve your products.

“Every entrepreneurial poor of QC can now avail of DOST’s Small and Medium Enterprise Technology Upgrade Program (STEP-UP). It intends to create more jobs, fast-track production, and enhance product quality,” said Director Fortuna.

Fortuna said the DOST is willing to help and provide laboratory testing and analysis to aspiring entrepreneurs for their product development. She said that any group of promising entrepreneurs can join our technology business incubator as part of our hands-on, in-house guidance for fledgling entrepreneurs. she said new technologies and equipments are available for food production, furniture, agriculture, textile, and aquatic products.

Dr. Sarmiento, also the head of the QC Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office, strongly encouraged all participating entrepreneurs to group themselves according to business lines and avail DOST’s free service. She also said we could take advantage of acquiring new technology in DOST’s stable, innovate and develop further your product, seek their technical support, and study good manufacturing practices. ###

Don’t cram your way to the Prom this Valentine’s

2009-04-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
February 11, 2009

BEING A STUDENT is both fun and stressful. You wade your way to wearisome exams, puzzling math quizzes, discomfited yourself in front of crush ng bayan and laughed at while declaiming, memorizing portions, and be lovestrucked with Florante at Laura, and burning the midnight oil for your term paper or baby thesis.

While muddled with thesis cram, you cluttered your mind by perennially thinking about the crush ng bayan. Aside from thinking about what to wear on prom night, coming up with a good thesis could be a good ploy to get his notice and possibly his adore in time for the school’s prom night or Valentine party.

Quezon City Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force Convenor Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento advised graduating high school students as well as on the college levels that term paper or thesis is a major requirement for your graduation. Thinking about it, makes it similar to watching a horror movie or hurdling a sporty obstacle course.

Dr. Sarmiento, also the head of the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO), recommends no-cramming thesis writing experience. Rather, make a to-do list in order to make a very good term paper or thesis. (1) List down what to do and set self-imposed deadlines. These will make you more organized. Program the heavier part that does a lot of researching and do the easier parts later.

(2) Be focused. Cut down on time that is not related to your academics and thesis. Don’t go to the mall this weekend. Minimize meeting friends unless they will help you on research and transcribing. Transcription and research validation to it need a lot of time and manpower.

(3) Always back up computer files. Viruses and worms are everywhere and could become nightmare to your valuable files. Be obsessive in saving your files in your thumb drive, burn it in a blank CD, and back it up in your PC.

(4) Frequently consult your adviser and seek the help of others. Some students are contented with just an initial consultation and go on to their thesis or term paper work, thinking that advisers are also busy. Contrary to common notions, advisers can help in making the right topic and advise you on the structure of your term paper or thesis. Likewise, real friends will help you transcribe, doing online research, and avoid sending you Facebook chats, Twitter, and yahoo messenger (YM) messages.

(5) Work in a private place and don’t count on coffee or energy drinks. Spend a couple of hours to work seriously on your thesis work or term paper, in a quiet place like library, green patch, or even in your quiet room. Disconnect temporarily from internet chat, social networking, and ringing cell phone that bugs you.

Best of all, Dr. Sarmiento said that one must do all the heavy work at daytime and avoid caffeine-laced drinks that keep you awake. Do the work of lesser thinking like transcribing or lay-outing at night to lessen your unconnected thoughts and groggy eyes.

When you’re over with your term paper or thesis, you can shop at best ukay-ukay in town and buy the best ‘designer’ clothes your money can get. Wear your best costume with matching accessories.

Test the dress a few days before you head to the prom. Make sure it fits so you can have it adjusted if it’s too long, too tight or too loose. Keep in mind that you’ll be dancing all night, so be comfortable.

“As you try to be glamorous for the prom night or Valentine’s party in school, you’ll wear the widest grin by finishing your term paper or thesis in time, ahead of the rest, and with a rewarding result and approval from your adviser,” Dr. Sarmiento concluded. ###

Amidst global financial crisis: Small entrepreneurs must strive for the best and think, act, speak prosperously

2009-04-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
January 26, 2009

Contact: SBECO Tel#: 9246314, 9246306

THE INCEPTION of the year of the work animal ox in the Chinese lunar calendar brought hope and prosperity consciousness not only to the Chinese community but to the Filipino entrepreneurs as well amidst the global financial meltdown.

Amidst the happiness and prosperity greeting the year of the ox, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque noted that 15,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were laid off from electronic factories of Taiwan and South Korea. While 19,000 have shortened working hours due to their companies’ cut-rate product orders from abroad.

Business slowdown worsens the country’s unemployment as business owners are forced to cut down on their labor force or close shop. Job losses will be first felt in all trade and investment enclaves in the country, both manufacturing and business process outsourcing (BPOs), and then by the few Filipino firms exporting to the US and other markets reliant to the US economy.

“But crisis brings ordinary Filipinos to entrepreneurship, to keep their families afloat in these trying times. Others, especially the women, resort to buy and sell basic necessity items to tide them over. Simple lifestyle and buying only essentials, the passion-driven Filipino entrepreneur easily adapt to the call of the times and grab opportunities where others do not, even in hard times,” said Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office head Dr. LaRainne Sarmiento.

According to Sarmiento, who also convenes Quezon City government’s Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF), the ever-resilient Filipino entrepreneur is known for its disciplined willingness to sweat and sow, reaping the fruits of its labor.

Dr. Sarmeinto cautioned that rather than relying on fate and luck alone, one must do good deeds to others in need even if business is facing rough sailing. Likewise, a sensible entrepreneur continuously studies, read books, attend seminars and workshops like accounting for non-accountants for example to be hands-on and be in tight control of your business.

She said that one must be kept updated as well through the internet, and seek sound business advice from experts, friends and relatives. She also said that laws and regulations must help existing entrepreneurs to grow and expand to help them strengthen their economic stamina against malaise brought upon by the global economic shrink.

Hence, Dr. Sarmiento warned budding entrepreneurs not to commit money mistakes. Living and spending within one’s means, save some to pay off debts, write a financial plan and undergo financial education, and value time like gold. “During tough times, one must be money smart,” she added.

She advised them to be always positive. Think, act and speak prosperously. For if you think you will achieve, you will attract energies that will make this happen, she concluded. ###

Voters registration campaign targets youth in QC

2009-04-22T07:22:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
December 2, 2008

QUEZON CITY Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF) convenor Dr. LaRainne Sarmiento today called on the youth to heed and respond to the campaign of voter’s registration.

In a launching of voters registration aimed especially for the youth who were
first-time voters dubbed “In Ka! Parehistro Ka!,” flyers and posters were distributed in select public places in Quezon City.

According to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), young voters population nationwide is expected to swell at 11 million. This huge number is capable enough for a national swing vote. Two million more new young voters are expected to troop to voting centers by 2010.

“A youth vote with a conscious agenda is enough to install pro-people national leaders. A voter’s education especially for the youth is a must now that would make them mindful of the issues of the day. Without doing so, apathy and indifference will beset them even before the 2010 elections,” said QC Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force convenor Dr. LaRainne Sarmiento.

The Quezon City government thru its Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force (APITF) will maximize new forms of media that click with the youth. Voters education on current social and political issues of the day could best use of social networking sites, blog sites, list serves, and the like.

“Aside from the typical public areas like schools, public markets, waiting sheds, we will try to post information materials campaigning for voters registration in internet cafes as well if possible in order to really reach the youth,” added Dr. Sarmiento.

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) said that nationwide, they expect two million new young voters to enlist at their offices and other satellite offices from December 2 to 19 and January 2 to December 2009. ###

Christmas lantern makers brighten up the entrepreneurial spirit

2009-04-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
November 25, 2008

NANAY MILA have shown the most intense interest among the 30 seminar participants attending a Christmas lantern making training sponsored by the Quezon City government’s Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO). The Sikap Buhay office is headed by Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento, facilitating collateral-free capital loans at very low interest for the entrepreneurial poor.

Catching her entrepreneurial eye, Milagros Reyes, aged 54 years old, commenced in 2004 a lantern making business using soft drink straws. She started her business with an initial capital of P1,500.

After three months, wanting to expand her small business and heeding the advice of Sikap Buhay, she joined the Novaliches Development Cooperative Inc (NOVADECI) and availed business loans reaching her third cycle loan of P6,000.

Without permanent jobs, Nanay Mila rallied two of her four unemployed sons to become instant laborers of her fledgling small business. She employs two additional workers among her neighbors in Barangay Masambong in QC’s District 1 to meet the expected big orders in time for the Yuletide season.

“I wanted to help augment our family income with the end-thought of giving my unemployed children who were all married, their own livelihood,” lamented Nanay Mila.

Since then, her family has been producing the Christmas lanterns yearly without fail. September is the best month to start her straw-made lantern business by procuring materials straight from the factory.

“I felt that straw-based lantern making could be a good business shift from my carinderia and snack food business that I do from January to August every year,” added Nanay Mila.

Similar to the hard-working ants, Nanay Mila ordered bulk materials from September till December and pile them up to lessen her cost. A pack of soft drink straws produces 3 small Christmas lanterns while 2 packs produce 1 big lantern. Prices ranged from 80 pesos to 100 pesos.

Earlier, she was using recycled soft drink straws as material but this is hard to clean, and many are twisted.

She set-up her first outlet in her home in Barangay Masambong, right in front of the barangay’s tennis court. Her first customers are the high school students of the nearby Sergio Osmeña High School. They used her lanterns to adorn the school premises in time for the Christmas season.

Since then, the school sent its yearly orders and words spread to other nearby schools about her unique Christmas décor. After two years, students from as far as Bulacan tossed orders to decorate their schools too. Likewise, Antipolo retailers learned of her Christmas lanterns and bought it for reselling in their city.

Last year, a Boracay-based posh resort owner set a large volume of 100 small and 50 big lanterns to decorate his resort. With this, expanding horizons and yearning to contact bazaar organizers became a great possibility, setting her sight first on the weekly bazaar at the Lung Center Hospital.

Nanay Mila’s twist of luck didn’t end there. With this year provided great opportunity to sell outside her home for the very first time. She began to join a product exhibition, and the Office of Vice-Mayor Herbert Bautista bought some samples as decoration for a public school in Fairview.

Big orders keep pouring in. Transporting her products into different places and bazaars is becoming more of a problem for her. “With some savings and more loan cycles, I’m hoping that one day, I could buy a transport vehicle to bring bulk orders in real time,” Nanay Mila said in jest.

Her lantern-making business changed her economic well-being and helped the condition of her married children tremendously. “By involving my children directly in the production and management, I’m fervent that one day, my children will continue my entrepreneurial spirit of alleviating us from poverty and strive for economic freedom,” surmised Nanay Mila.

Meanwhile, by December 10, as her bulk orders this Christmas season are already assured, Nanay Mila Reyes is now gearing her flexible entrepreneurial spirit to rice cakes (puto bungbong and bibingka) in time for the start of the midnight mass this Christmas, where she expect a nightly profit of P3,000.

While Nanay Mila kept her stretchy entrepreneurial spirit at hand, an entrepreneurial cooperative kept afloat a group of manufacturing neighborhood of capiz lantern makers.

Recent 2008 Most Entrepreneurial Manufacturing Cooperative Awardee of Quezon City, Bagbag Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMPC) was formed realizing the need to serve small striving entrepreneurs victimized by usurious loan sharks.

A brainchild of Barangay Chairman Carlito Bernardino and wife Valerie, BMPC was organized in May 16, 2003 with friends and relatives. It was formed with an initial 30 members with a capitalization of P90,000. “It’s BMPC’s strong intent to become a major partner-producer of capiz shell crafts by adopting its manufacturers to produce best quality, on-time production, and reasonably-priced items,” said BMPC General Manager Rose Cañadido.

When big capiz exporter Shellwood Industries ceased operations in the 1990’s, 20 small capiz producers continued their trade independently and looked for other buyer-exporters elsewhere.

Sometime in June 2004, Barangay Chairman Bernardino called a meeting of all small capiz producers in Bagbag and suggested that they organize themselves and form into an association. “With the end view of consolidating their production, improving the quality of their products, and increase efficiency, the help of Bagbag Multi-Purpose Cooperative to market their products is very timely and necessary for the small capiz producers. BMPC provided the microfinance loans,” added Ms. Cañadido.

In the succeeding month, Barangay Chairman Bernardino contacted the SM Foundation thru ex-Vice-Mayor Connie Angeles who was accommodating enough to visit the capiz production area. Ms. Angeles came together with a group of Chinese buyers. She arranged with SM to display capiz products in SM South Mall trade exhibit sometime October and November 2004.

Miss Cañadido also said that the BMPC adopted the capiz shell producers as its client-beneficiaries because we aspire to become the best capiz shell producing center known for best quality, on-time production and reasonably priced cottage industry. It can produced lamp shades, Christmas decors, laminated picture frames, fruit trays, bowls, Christmas lanterns, etc.

Aside from producing the capiz shell crafts, the BMPC marketed by joining trade exhibits of high projection like those at SM malls, and product exhibits at Quezon City Hall.

As of December 2007, BMPC has a capitalization of P 3,768,725.23 with assets P 4,459,058.47. It has a membership of 313 regular members, 11 associate members, 97 microfinance borrowers, 3 smart teen members, and 32 youth bee’s members.

“At an early age, we wanted to encourage the youth to be active through our entrepreneurship program like the Youth Development in Cooperatives and other skills training programs other than capiz shell crafts like the soap-making, and bookkeeping and entrepreneurship seminars,” said Ms. Cañadido.

Right now, BMPC is still looking for big buyers so it can help small producers become profitable.

“As shown in BMPC’s experience, we have considerable human resources skillful in all aspect of production. It is a matter of organizing and harnessing the vast potential of our production workers,” Sikap Buhay’s Dr. Sarmiento stressed. ###

You can contact Milagros Reyes at #6 Malac Street, Tennis Court, Barangay Masambong, District 1, Quezon City. Telephone No. 413-2434, Cellphone No. 0908-5221644.

Bagbag Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMPC) can be contacted thru its General Manager Ms. Rose D. Cañadido, #637 Quirino Highway corner T. Carreon Street, Bagbag, Novaliches, Quezon City. Telephone No. 4190860, Email: rose_bmpc@yahoo.com

Quezon City government honored City’s Most Entrepreneurial Cooperatives

2009-04-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

SEVEN outstanding Quezon City-based cooperatives were feted in a award ceremony honoring the most entrepreneurial cooperatives.

With the theme “Koop sa Kabuhayan para sa Kaunlarang Likas Kaya”, the seven entrepreneurial cooperatives met the stringent requirements set by the board of judges. The jury is composed of various distinguished cooperative development specialists that cooperative movement ever produced.

Coveted the hall of fame award, the Novaliches Development Cooperative Inc. (NOVADECI) got the Koop Tala Awardee for the year 2008.

Multi-awarded NOVADECI started in 1976 with 70 members with an initial capital of P7,000. It has now membership of 19,848 with a paid-up capital of P183,013,188.00. Its total assets is now at P881,597,424.00.

Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO) head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento presented the mechanics of QC’s 2008 Most Entrepreneurial Cooperatives Awards.

She said that the most entrepreneurial cooperatives awards recognizes our successful cooperatives which exhibited substantial and sustained increase in their incomes, assets and membership as a result of their being a business enterprise.

Other awardees are the following: Original Transport Service and Multi-Purpose Cooperative (OTC) for being the Most Entrepreneurial Service Cooperative; Sacred Heart Parish Development Cooperative (SHPDC) as the Most Entrepreneurial Credit Cooperative (community-based); Saint Luke’s Medical Center Multi-Purpose Cooperative as the Most Entrepreneurial Credit Cooperative (institution-based).

Bagbag Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMPC) got the Most Entrepreneurial Manufacturing Cooperative; Bureau of Internal Revenue Multi-Purpose Cooperative as the Most Entrepreneurial Trading Cooperative; and the Cooperative Insurance System of the Philippines (CISP) as the Most Entrepreneurial Insurance Provider.

Senior Cooperative Development Specialist Ms. Sally Triñanes of Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) narrated the daunting criteria set by the board of judges. She said that the entrepreneurial cooperative awardees met the criteria of being financially stable for the last two (2) years; has shown substantial increase in sales or income by at least 25%.

They must be compliant with laws governing cooperatives; generated employment for the members and the community; operated by and benefited at least 80% of its total membership.

They must be engaged in business not a concessionaire where the cooperative earn/benefit only on a commission basis; does not promote the name and business of an individual or business group; exhibited resourcefulness, flexibility, networking skills, risk taking and readiness for continuing education.

The awardees must have operated as a business enterprise that have economic, social and cultural impact on its members or clients in alleviating poverty, improving delivery of basic services, empowering members, decreasing household burdens, etc; and has shown sustained increase in membership.

Gracing the occasion is Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. who praised all the entrepreneurial cooperative awardees and gave the inspirational talk.

He said that amidst the backdrop of global financial crisis and the possible influx of displaced overseas Filipino workers (OFW’s), we commend the entrepreneurial local cooperatives that have thrived well for the past years and who have lifted the lives of their members.

Keynote speaker Mr. Resti Pitogo, President of Extramile Corporation, challenged the awardees to continue pursuing social entrepreneurship as a clearer path to genuine community development. Mr. Pitogo took into account the great experience of Bangladesh’s Grameen banking innovated by Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

Mr. Pitogo noted Grameen’s principles of truly helping the poor by focusing more on the problem, serving more on the poor creditors, and taking the tack of developmental thinking making way for new processes and knowledge.

Mr. Pitogo likewise dared the awardees to start transcending provident loans and earmarked now on real entrepreneurial business like manufacturing. Mr. Pitogo added that cooperatives could truly become social entrepreneurs and developmental by taking this tack.

Councilor Joseph Juico, Committee Chairperson on Cooperatives of the Quezon City Council said that we should help promote the concept and practices of cooperativism as a vehicle of change for community development.

Mayor Sonny Belmonte further said that we must take the challenge and meet the crisis head-on. He said that, to do this, we must be armed with the ‘can do’ attitude and equipped with the right tools to improve, strengthen, and imbibe the spirit of cooperativism among our citizens.

Dr. Sarmiento added that these cooperative enterprises made economic, social and political impact to their members and clients and helped alleviate poverty, improved delivery of basic services and empowered them.

Other guests to the event include Ms. Ma. Veronica Congco, President of the Metro Manila Association of Cooperative Development Officers (MEMACDO), and Mr. Manuel Lapeña, Officer-in-Charge of the Manila Extension Office of the CDA.

The following cooperatives attended the said event: NEA Employees Multi-Purpose Cooperative, CISP, PNP LT Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Santa Perpetua Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Angelito Coop MPC, QC Union of Cooperatives, D’Distributors MPC, Bagbag MPC, BIR MPC, Makati CDO, Frisco Coop, CSJDM, NFA MPC, SLMC MPC, OVM Coop, OTS MPC, Redfox Credit Coop, Division Employees Credit Coop, Jamadores MPC, Immaculate Conception Parish Credit Coop, PUP College of Cooperatives, BFP MPC, Calamba Creek MPC, QCGH Consumers Coop, Global Pro, QCPL MPC, SYBPM Coop, Paragon Credit Coop, Caloocan Realty Services MPC, UP Consumers Coop, Metro Manila Savings Cooperative.

Pangarap ng Maginhawang Buhay MPC, Jesus Christ Fellowship MPC, San Pedro Bautista Ugnayan MPC, CSMC, OTC-DOTC, City SCC, NOVADECI, Kaakbay Entre Workers Coop, Maceda MPC, KEMPCO-Kyusi, Sergio Osmeña Sr High School, SLMC Coop, Batasan Hills Elementary School-GPTCA, Sacred Heart Parish Development Coop, Santa Lucia High School MPC, Wranglers Club Phil Service Coop, MPCPICO, and TARASDECO.

The QC Most Entrepreneurial Cooperatives Awards is a partnership of the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SBECO), the Quezon City Mayor’s Office, and the CDA. ###

Wonder fish Pangasius to solve QC poor’s food woes

2009-04-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
October 24, 2008
Contact: Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship & Cooperative Office, 924-6313

IT WAS A celebratory mood at the Paligsahan Barangay Hall yesterday where the turnover ceremonies to 20 Quezon City (QC) poor families of drum sets and fingerlings of new wonder fish Pangasius, a catfish variety.

Dubbed as the “Pangisdaan sa Bakuran” urban aquaculture project, the 20 poor families-beneficiaries in 10 selected barangays will commence today the culturing of Pangasius, famous in restaurant circles as the dory fish.

“This noble project is part of QC’s anti-poverty program under the able leadership of Mayor Sonny Belmonte Jr, aimed to mitigate the impact of rising prices of commodities”, said Sikap Buhay head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento. Dr. Sarmiento, convenor of the QC Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force.

The said urban aquaculture project meant for the poor is a partnership between the QC local government unit thru its Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the Angelito Club Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Vitarich Corporation, and the A & L Fishpond and Hatcheries Inc.

Poor recipients from depressed areas of Barangays Paligsahan, South Triangle, Sacred Heart, Roxas, Obrero, Kamuning, Damayang Lagi, Batasan Hills, Commonwealth, and Payatas participanted in a one-day seminar and hands-on training on Pangasius culturing in a three-tiered 6-piece pyramid-type plastic drums.

According to Dr. Sarmiento, Pangasius culturing could provide the protein deficiency and low calcium intake among kids of poor families. Dr. Sarmiento also took notice of the Filipinos’ low percentage of calcium intake at 57%. Calcium is needed for a stronger bone mass countering osteoporosis later in life.

Recipients will take part in a piloting of Pangasius raising for 3 months. The wonder fish Pangasius is easily adaptable to urban’s limited space at low-cost type technology. The six- drums for each recipient poor family can grow a total of 180 pieces of Pangasius at 3 pieces a kilo, an assurance of at least 2 months home consumption after the 90 days raising period. Vitarich and Angel Club MPC will grant the feeds during the 90-day nurturing period. ###

Microfinance Access for Entrepreneurial Poor Warmly Received in Barangay South Triangle

2009-04-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
September 30, 2008

Reference: SB ECO, Tel# 924-6313

SIKAP BUHAY Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) heightened its information campaign by reaching to 80 promising entrepreneurial poor residents of
Barangay South Triangle in Quezon City’s District 4.

In a session providing basic knowledge, skills, and attitudes on micro-entrepreneurship, Sikap Buhay head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento strongly encouraged the barangay residents to leap forward by equipping themselves with all the necessary knowledge and skills to become strong micro-entrepreneurs.

“Quezon City’s microfinance lending is a noble “way out of poverty” program for the entrepreneurial poor of Mayor Sonny Belmonte Jr that advances livelihood and economic development for aspiring entrepreneurs striving for self-reliance. By multiplying, these micro-enterprises engender vibrant communities with strong institutional support coming from the local government unit like Quezon City,” said Dr. Sarmiento.

According to Sikap Buhay, individuals or groups can avail of non-collateral loans ranging from P3,000 to P5,000 on the first cycle depending on the capacity of the borrower’s micro-enterprise. Interest varies from 1.5% to 3% which is payable between 3 to 6 months or in a span of 25 weeks.

Dr. Sarmiento stirred Barangay South Triangle’s promising entrepreneurs on four questions to ponder from a book about Mr. John Gokongwei. She believed this will guide greatly in venturing into business: Is there a market for my product? Do I have enough capital? Can I compete with others? And can I sleep on it at night?

“Like every passionate Filipino entrepreneur, you want to do what you love to do,” Dr. Sarmiento surmised. ###

The Quezon City Anti-Poverty Task Force Lauded E-Barangay Agriculture Project

2009-04-22T07:05:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release
September 24, 2008

THE QUEZON CITY Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force commended the E-barangay Agriculture Project as an anti-poverty measure overcoming hardship among urban dwellers of the metropolis.

In a statement provided to media, Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento who also convenes the said task force, gave full support to the noble endeavor galvanizing non-government organizations/government organizations (NGO-GO) partnership for Gender-Poverty-Environment initiated by the Asian Women’s Network on Gender and Development (AWNGAD) and the Ugnayan ng Kababaihan sa Pulitika (UKP).

“The Quezon City (QC) government through the able leadership of Mayor Sonny Belmonte Jr remains to be unwavering in fighting poverty at all cost. In times of continuing skyrocketing cost of basic commodities, Quezon City is resolute in pursuing all initiatives of NGOs and people’s organizations (PO’s) in blighted communities to eradicate poverty and provide better services to the underprivileged,” added Dr. Sarmiento.

Currently, QC is campaigning for garden patches in schools and communities known as Halamanan sa Bakuran program stressing planting vegetables and leafy greens like malunggay to supplement family’s food on the table and increase incomes.

Dr. Sarmiento shared that the Sikap Buhay program is part of the overall strategy, to assist QC’s poor, promotes entrepreneurship by facilitating collateral-free microfinance loans. The SB ECO already assisted more than 40,000 QC residents amounting to P600 million through seven (7) conduit-microfinance financial organizations. Sikap Buhay targets the ecologically-friendly micro-enterprises with its current services.

The Anti-Poverty Task Force has also lined up piloting of Pangasius, a high-value fresh water fish, as part of its urban aquaculture program. Dr. Sarmiento said that fish is among the cheapest source of calcium and a great alternative to milk. Ample calcium intake is key in achieving bone mass.

Recently, Sikap Buhay trained 50 women entrepreneurial poor in Barangay Roxas for fish processing entrepreneurship. Investing in calcium as early as childhood has benefits later in life, decreasing incidence of osteoporosis among Filipinos. Osteoporosis make bones easily fractured than normal. ###

Fish Processing Entrepreneurship Geared Economic Direction of Barangay Roxas Residents

2009-04-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
September 22, 2008

Reference: Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office, Tel# 924-6313

AROUND 50 residents of Barangays Roxas, Obrero and Paligsahan underwent a fish processing training and entrepreneurship orientation conducted by the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) of the Quezon City Hall. The said training focused on milk fish deboning and fish nuggets, and spicy anchovies production.

Sikap Buhay head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento commended the trainees for favoring the fish processing entrepreneurship among others. Dr. Sarmiento said that fish are among the cheapest sources of calcium and a great alternative to milk. Ample calcium intake is key in achieving bone mass. Investing in calcium as early as childhood has benefits later in life, decreasing incidence of osteoporosis among Filipinos. Osteoporosis make bones easily fractured than normal.

Co-undertaken with the Public Affairs Ministries of the Holy Family Parish Church in Barangay Roxas, Sikap Buhay head Dr. Sarmiento praised all participants for enhancing their capabilities and commitment to cooperate collectively to advance their economic conditions.

“The office of Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. remains committed to the improvement of the entrepreneurial poor by providing capital access through collateral-free microfinance loans. To fully advance their condition, the Sikap Buhay complements the loans with capability enhancement skills training,” said Dr. Sarmiento.

According to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the recommended daily calcium intake should be 200 to 1000 milligrams, depending on the age group. Calcium intake for Filipinos remains to be low at 57.1%, according to the 2003 food consumption survey accomplished by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

Aside from anchovies and sardines, other sources of cheap calcium can be found in leafy greens, tokwa (soybean curd), and shrimp paste. ###

Barangay Sacred Heart Meat Processing Training Prop Up Entrepreneurial Poor

2009-04-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
September 15, 2008

Contact reference: Sikap Buhay Entrepreneur and Cooperative Office, Tel# 924-6313

“Halina’t Magsanay at magnegosyo!”

THIS was the come on heralded by the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) to the 200 residents of Barangay Sacred Heart and neighboring barangays of Quezon City’s District IV during a meat processing seminar to empower the entrepreneurial poor through training and access to business capital.

SB ECO head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento praised all barangay residents, mostly young women and mothers, who were inspired by the different success stories of livelihood upliftment that augment family income and cope with the hard times.

Dr. Sarmiento was elated and thankful with the huge turnout from the Barangay Sacred Heart as well as from other Quezon City Barangays Obrero, Kamuning, Kalusugan, Kristong Hari, South Triangle, and delegation from Barangay Commonwealth.

Sponsored by Nestlé Philippines and the Sacred Heart Church’ Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) – Sagrado Corazon Circle, the meat processing seminar imbued skills on hamburger patties making, quekiam, skinless longganisa, siomai, and chicken ham with the hope of providing additional income to poor families.

“We wanted to help them”, added Sacred Heart Church Social Service Coordinator Sister Olive Uy when queried on their goal in carrying out the said livelihood seminar. Dr. Sarmiento echoed Sister Olive’s idea of helping the needy and the Sikap Buhay is always willing to facilitate livelihood seminars to poor communities. “We help people who help themselves overcome poverty by grabbing opportunities that lift economic conditions,” Dr. Sarmiento furthered.

Sacred Heart Church Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Ed Guarin, SVD, could not hide his happiness on the large numbers of those who attended the said meat processing seminar. Sikap Buhay Capability Building Unit head John Tamayo also added that Sikap Buhay provides organizational management training as well for community organizations that wanted to strengthen their structures in continuing services and programs for the entrepreneurial poor of Quezon City’s barangays. ###

Wonder Veggie Malunggay Adorned High School Studes' Mr. and Ms. Nutrition Celebrating Nutrition Week

2009-04-22T06:56:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

August 4, 2008

Contact: Sikap Buhay ECO, Telephone # 924-6313

"INDEED, malunggay is not only your mother's best friend but helpful even to students and to the whole family."

These are the words of motivation of Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento to jovial high students of Flora Ylagan High School in Barangay Pinyahan of Quezon City's District 4.

"Wonder veggie malunggay has been found to have more vitamin C, protein and minerals than many fruits, vegetables, meat and milk," said Sikap Buhay (SB ECO) head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento. "Hence, it should be served more often on our table, making nutritious foods easily reached to all.".

The Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) has been intensifying its promotion and programs of the wonder veggie malunggay among high school students for its healthful benefits as food and medicine. Dr. Sarmiento also alluded to the Department of Energy's (DOE) findings of malunggay seeds as potential biofuel source, while the Department of Health (DOH) found its healing properties.

Flora Ylagan High School Principal Dr. Eladio Escolano extolled the students for their liveliness and warned them as well it could lead to waste if not nourished with the wonder veggie malunggay. Dr. Escolano said that since the wonder veggie malunggay is simple to plant and available all-year round, it can become a regular dish with lots of creative and tasty menus out of it.

Dr. Sarmiento cited the school for its nutrition week and coming out with multiple activities venerating the healthful benefits of the wonder veggie malunggay. Flora Ylagan High School organized a week-long nutrition celebration with slogan making, poster making, a quiz bee, nutri-jingle, and a cooking demo. Bedecked with malunggay garlands, the school's crowned Mr. and Ms. Nutrition became emissaries of good health and nutrition awareness among the youth of Barangay Pinyahan and QC's District 4.

Likewise, Sikap Buhay ECO is more than willing to support all malunggay-based food entrepreneurship which is not pricey to residents of Quezon City's District 4. ###

Barangay Tatalon’s High School Studes Respond to Malnutrition Woes with Malunggay Cookfest

2009-04-22T06:53:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
August 1, 2008

Reference: SB ECO, Telephone # 924-6313

FACED with a big incidence of malnutrition, high school students of Quezon City (QC)’s Barangay Tatalon organized a creative way of addressing the said problem in a tastier way.

High school students belonging to Dr. Josefa Jara Martinez High School conducted a nutritious cookfest with wonder veggie malunggay as the main ingredient. Dubbed as the “on the spot cookfest”, the activity is part of a fulfillment of their technology and livelihood education subject attuning it to deal with Barangay Tatalon’s nutrition agony, albeit temporarily.

According to the 2008 study of the QC’s Health Department, Barangay Tatalon has the highest incidence of malnutrition in QC’s District 4, with 24.6%.

Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento commended the teachers for setting-up this splendid feat imbibing students to eat the nutritious yet affordable wonder veggie malunggay.

Dr. Josefa Jara Martinez High School Principal Dr. Victoria Manguso highly praised Dr. Sarmiento and told the high school students that she’s in the best position to tell about malunggay-based nutrition. The Sikap Buhay ECO adopted the wonder veggie malunggay for its nutrition education and supplemental feeding program for depressed barangays.

“Wonder veggie malunggay is not only tastier and nutritious, it also acts as an anti-oxidant good for anti-aging. We are now encountering food supplements in capsules and syrups that are malunggay-based, confirming the healthy benefits of the wonder veggie. Ever-affordable malunggay need not become a tablet to become a regular piece of the ordinary Filipino’s food on the table,” Dr. Sarmiento said.

Dr. Sarmiento added that findings from the Department of Energy (DOE) showed malunggay fruit, when dried, could become a good source of bio-fuel. The malunggay fruit, along with the fabled tuba-tuba (jathropha) are great sources of bio-fuels for the country’s alternative fuel consumption.

With the school’s creative initiative, Dr. Sarmiento is very much certain that high school studes of Dr. Josefa Jara Martinez High School could produce young inventors of alternative fuels meant to address the country’s fuel consumption problem. She also called on everyone to plant malunggay in their households even in small pots or plastic containers. Wonder veggie malunggay is easy to plant and available all year-round. ###

Malunggay Planting High School Studes culminate QC District 4's Festive Nutrition Month

2009-04-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

July 29, 2008
Contact Reference: Sikap Buhay Office, Tel # 924-6313

AROUND 200 High School students of Carlos P. Albert High School in Barangay Santol in Quezon City's District 4 prepared their own menu and served them in colorful arrangements at the school's malunggay food festival. Sample fares include kinonot, picadillo, dinengdeng with malunggay fruits, malunggay tofu burger, malunggay pandan drink, malunggay tea, polvoron, and malunggay balls for desert.

They also participated in planting the wonder veggie malunggay designated in their school's malunggay park.

The food festival aims to promote awareness and propagate planting and eating the said nutritious wonder veggie in these trying times.

"In times like these, nutritious foods can still be accessible and not costly for all. The wonder veggie malunggay, best known for being mother's best friend, should be served more often in our table. Malunggay has been found to have more vitamin C, protein and minerals than many fruits, vegetables, meat and milk," said Sikap Buhay (SB ECO) head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento.

Carlos P. Albert High School's Principal Corazon C. Lomibao opined that the Nutrition Month's slogan "Sa Wastong Nutrisyon ni Mommy, Siguradong Healthy si Baby" gives a great guide and opportunity to intensify awareness about malunggay wonder veggie not only for mothers but for the whole family.

According to SB ECO head Dr. Sarmiento who also convenes QC's Anti-Poverty Integration Task Force, more wonders of malunggay are now being revealed with the City's barangay health workers (BHW's) concocting new healthy and affordable foods and delicacies out of malunggay. Dr. Sarmiento said that healthy foods need not be pricey.

Dr. Sarmiento also cited the Department of Energy's (DOE) initial findings of malunggay seeds as potential biofuel source, while the Department of Health (DOH) found healing properties.

On their part, Carlos P. Albert's Principal Ms. Lomibao was flattered of Dr. Sarmiento's presence and gracing the school's Food Festival. She praised Dr. Sarmiento for showing every budding entrepreneurs that nutrition education could work hand-in-hand with enterprising business by making a lot of malunggay-based food products at affordable prices.

Sikap Buhay continuously supports all malunggay-based food entrepreneurship that is reachable to depressed areas of Quezon City's District 4. ###

GAD Focal Persons Tackles Grassroots Economic Empowerment in Quezon City

2009-04-22T06:45:00.000-07:00

July 23, 2008

Contact Reference: SB ECO, Telephone # 924-6313

MORE than 20 Gender and Development (GAD) Focal Persons of Gender and Development (GAD) in Quezon City's 4th District gathered in a round-table discussion to share
their views on grassroots economic empowerment this month.

They shared and dicussed alternative mechanisms to address poverty in their respective constituents.

Dubbed as the "Kababaihan at Kabuhayan sa Barangay," the said gathering started with a sharing of different economic issues affecting their respective barangays, the city, and the nation, as a whole. Bearing in mind the main theme of the meeting, the participants single-handedly identified high prices of commodities, particularly rice, transport fares, utilities, and rent as barriers in the household's and community's continuing development. The lack of employment opportunities, criminality, and increasing cost to do business were also cited.

Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB ECO) head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento praised the GAD Focal Persons by standing up, speaking out from their vantage point, and breaking the culture of silence by actively participating in their communities for economic empowerment and helping the poor.

For her part, Quezon City Gender and Development (GAD) Council Co-chairperson and convenor of QC Gender Council Ms. Alice Herrera persuaded the participants to intensify gender mainstreaming in their barangays. Ms. Herrera stressed that they should be watchful of gender stereotyping, biases, and attitudes that are obstacles to women's and men's equality and empowerment.

Ms. Herrera added the country can have better governance and pro-poor GAD agenda if we nurture committed and effective advocates, support GAD-friendly LGU leaders, make resources available to GAD programs, strengthen linkages with NGOs/POs particularly on research, continuing education and training, and broadening access to information.

SB ECO head Dr. Sarmiento expressed her admiration of participants who set-up micro and small enterprises not only for their family's welfare but also to support their communities and the needy. Quezon City Mayor Sonny Belmonte's microfinance program thru Sikap Buhay, is more than willing to extend capital loans to these women entrepreneurs. ###

Sikap Buhay picked Malunggay Queen among Gandang Buntis Highlighting QC District 4's Nutrition Month

2009-04-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

July 17, 2008

Contact Reference: Sikap Buhay Office, Tel # 924-6313

THE WONDER veggie malunggay became the center of attraction as part of the nutrition education campaign among lactating mothers at Quezon City (QC) District 4's Gandang Buntis contest. The gandang buntis program is part of Nutrition Month celebration of Quezon City Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte.

The said nutrition education campaign spearheaded by Sikap Buhay head Dr LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento is ongoing and part of the supplemental feeding being undertaken among QC kids in day care centers and grade schools.

"The wondrous malunggay has been known as mother's best friend. It is but apt to extend the said nutrition education to all lactating mothers. Hence, gandang buntis program is great opportunity to inform not only the lactating mothers but all QC residents about malunggay's other healthful benefits. Malunggay is known to have more vitamin C than the better known orange fruit," said Sikap Buhay head Dr. Sarmiento.

Nine (9) well-groomed lactating mothers among District 4's 25 participating mothers joined the gandang buntis program held at the Kamuning Health Center. Young mothers from Barangays Tatalon, Kaunlaran, and South Triangle became the first three (3) winners. Ms. Lanilyn Fababier of Barangay Tatalon emerged the overall winner and became the Reyna ng Malunggay as well with great knowledge about the healthy benefits of malunggay.

Enterprising barangay health workers (BHWs) of QC's District 4 set-up paraller nutri-booths at the venue premises to show further to families that proper nutrition could be affordable to all. Sikap Buhay head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento praised all enterprising BHWs who were mothers as well by showing that entrepreneurship and nutrition education could work hand-in-hand by making a lot of malunggay-based food products at affordable prices.

Sikap Buhay will continuously support all malunggay-based food entrepreneurship which is not costly even to depressed areas of Quezon City's District 4. ###

Sikap Buhay Micro-Entrepreneurs Mini-exhibit

2009-04-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release
July 9, 2008

AS PART of the People’s Day for Quezon City Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr,
Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB-ECO) head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento led a one-day parallel mini-exhibit showcasing products from micro-entrepreneurs.

Four micro-enterprises from the city’s District 2 exhibited hand-crafted products like wicker baskets, capiz lamp shades, decors and parols, and bags from recycled paper were displayed at the city hall’s Bulwagang Amoranto. Hordes of city hall employees and guests visited their booths and were awed by the ingenuity of Sikap Buhay’s micro-entrepreneurs-clients.

Capiz maker Noel Caso of Barangay Sauyo, span-off his own handicraft micro-business from his siblings’ shop. Employing 12 workers from his neighbors, Mr. Caso’s production exports its products by them. Caso used to accept job orders from his sister’s shop in Almar until he decided to set-up his own micro-business.

Bag makers Maritess Globo and Josephine Concepcion, who were both active members-borrowers from Barangay Batasan Hills, lead a 10-person workforce to produce finely crafted bags out of colorful recycled papers. While geared for the local market, both Maritess and Josephine are pinning their hopes on Sikap Buhay to help them export their products.

Basket maker Roland Manobo of Novaliches proper, wanted to expand his horizon by joining Sikap Buhay’s product exhibition so that he could broaden his market. Employing eight (8) workers, Roland sourced his materials of seaweeds, water lily, and abaca from Pampanga. Mr. Manobo’s wife is a former client of conduits Novaliches Development Cooperative Inc (NOVADECI), and ASA Foundation.

Sikap Buhay member and Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan (CRBB) borrower Rosita Daiz encouraged her husband Jesus to join the mini-exhibition. Being another capiz maker from Barangay Bagbag, Jesus wanted to surge his micro-business from seasonal production for local consumption to voluminous exports by joining the mini-exhibition. He currently employs ten (10) workers.

SB-ECO Head Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento recognized the four micro-entrepreneurs for the big sales and orders during the exhibit. This only shows the success reaped by the micro-entrepreneurs and the institutional support provided by SB-ECO’s pro-poor, pro-micro-business program of Mayor Sonny Belmonte and the whole Quezon City government. ###

Sikap Buhay Kicks-off July Activities with Microfinance Orientation in QC’s 4th District

2009-04-22T06:27:00.000-07:00

For immediate release
July 8, 2008

Reference contact: Quezon City Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship & Cooperative Office (SB-ECO), Telephone # 924-6313

THE Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office (SB-ECO) under the able leadership of its Head, Dr. La Rainne Abad-Sarmiento, conducted a microfinance
orientation through its Organizing and Monitoring Unit, introducing basic entrepreneurship principles, and facilitated the introduction of microfinance cooperatives/ institutions like the Cooperative Rural Bank of Bulacan (CRRB), UPLIFT, Novaliches Development Cooperative Inc (NOVADECI), ASA Foundation, Center for Community Transformation (CCT), EuroCredit, and Bagbag Multi-purpose Cooperative.

Covering two barangays – UP Campus and Barangay Paligsahan with 52 participants, the microfinance lending is a noble program for the entrepreneurial poor of Quezon City Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr says this upholds livelihood and economic development for aspiring business-minded micro-entrepreneurs who strive towards self-reliance and engender vibrant communities.

Residents of Quezon City who could qualify for the qualify loans are those who have an existing micro-enterprise or about to start one; between 18 to 60 years old; has his/her own house or has one-year barangay residency if renting a house; has a monthly income of P2,000 per capita; has marketable assets of not more than P100,000; and has no existing loan with any lending or financial institution.

Individuals or groups can avail of non-collateral loans ranging from P3,000 to P5,000 on the first cycle depending on the capacity of the borrower’s micro-enterprise. Interest varies from 1.5% to 3% which is payable between 3 to 6 months or in a span of 25 weeks. Other procedures may differ depending on the conduit’s policies.

The SB-ECO started as the Task Force Sikap Buhay through an Executive Order issued on April 2002 by Mayor Sonny Belmonte as aid to micro-entrepreneurs. Its formation indicated the start of microfinance lending under the Puhunang Pangkaunlaran ng Sikap Buhay (PPSB) program extending micro-credit to budding micro-entrepreneurs of Quezon City particularly in depressed areas.

SB-ECO’s head Dr. Sarmiento is a feminist civic leader and former barangay chairperson of Barangay Aurora. She sees a bright future for the city’s micro-enterprises with the sturdy support provided by the barangay chairmen, barangay’s livelihood committees, as well as local Gender & Development (GAD) coordinators.

Through its seven conduit microfinance lending cooperatives, the SB-ECO has assisted more than 40,000 micro-entrepreneurs with a total collective amount of P395 million pesos. Around 28,000 borrowers continued to be active in their business endeavors from 92 barangays of the city’s 142 local barangays.

The Sikap Buhay microfinance lending program impacted not only poverty alleviation but also built among micro-entrepreneurs a consciousness of hard work, capacity building for self-reliance, getting rid of social vices, and forward-looking mind-set of family’s economic development and community-building.

The said micro-lending program reaches likewise to other depressed areas of Quezon City’s Districts 1, 3, and 2. Furthermore, assistance is also afforded to successful entrepreneurial borrowers by showcasing and promoting their products to trade shows and exhibits. Dr. LaRainne Abad-Sarmiento convenes the Quezon City Anti-Poverty Integrated Task Force in her capacity as head of the Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship & Cooperative Office (SB-ECO). ###

About Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office

2009-04-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

The Sikap Buhay Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Office traces its roots to Task Force SMILE in 1992 and Task Force Sikap Buhay in 2002. It was set up to implement Quezon City’s micro-finance program and function as its Cooperative Development Office.

As of March 2010, Sikap Buhay facilitated access to micro-financing for 35,936 micro entrepreneurs in 130 of the city’s 142 barangays. Its seven conduit micro-financing institutions (MFIs) have collectively lent out PhP7.12M with a remarkable re-payment rate of 97%. It likewise provided livelihood skills training and basic business or entrepreneurship training for these borrowers.

Today, Sikap Buhay is stepping up its programs and services as it shares in the city's vision of 'a local economy that is diverse, strong and vibrant that ensures prosperity and sustainable growth for all'.

Sikap Buhay commits itself to deliver quality programs and services that will strengthen and ensure the sustainable growth of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cooperatives in Quezon City.

This will be done by developing capabilities, providing business development services and facilitating access to financing that would result to viable economic activities.

Moreover, it will ensure that the enabling environment supports the sustainable growth of MSMEs & Cooperatives by (a) building up and maintaining required databases and network of partners; (b) monitoring and evaluating program and services for efficiency and effectiveness; and (c) developing related policy-recommendations and plans.

CLIENT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES -- Develop capabilities of MSMEs & Cooperatives to support their economic activities by (a) building awareness; (b) developing appropriate skills; and (c) enskilling cooperatives and similar other groups.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT -- Build-up of appropriate business resources to support the economic activities of MSMEs & Cooperatives including access to financial services and product & marketing support services.

ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES -- Ensure that management systems and procedures facilitate the attainment of plans, programs and services.