A Different Kind Of Lesson From PRDP Operations – Loans For Livelihood Via Multi-Purpose Cooperative. And “We Make Change Work For Women”?

I would never have associated the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) with Cooperatives, or Loans, much less Women, if I did not read the news from PRDP South Luzon Cluster (image above). The PRDP is also an enabler of the capabilities of people!

I am reading the PRDP South Luzon Chapter via Facebook sharing by Noel Ocampo Reyes “Paving The Way For A Better Livelihood For All” (Danica A Brutas, 31 March 2022, prdp.da.gov.ph):

From an allowance of PhP500 monthly [for] managing countless records and documentation of minutes, Leonila Regio has been with the Farm Operators of Marinduque Multi-Purpose Cooperative… since… 30 years ago.

As the lone employee back then, together with the manager, Leonila continued to perform as an all-around staff. Leonila was the perfect example of continuing to do good, and you’ll do well.

Leonila was eventually promoted to Loan Officer, then Treasurer of the cooperative. The coop’s growth led to financial assistance from the PRDP. The coop has since expanded from managing loans to meat processing.

Ms Leonila says:

Sa ngayon, unang-una, mahirap-hirap. Pero ngayon na magkakaron ng meat processing, magiging maayos at matutulungan namin yung iba pang mga miyembro at yung iba pang gustong maging miyembro. Kasi syempre magkakaron ng meat processing, marami kaming matutulungan na mga kababayan natin, mga kabarangay, lalo na yung mga walang hanapbuhay.

“In the beginning, it was a bit difficult. But now that we have meat processing, we will have a system and will be able to help members and those who wish to become members. Certainly, with meat processing, we will be able to help many of our barangay-mates, especially those who have no livelihoods.” (my free translation)

Ms Leonila is looking at meat processing as a godsend because, of course, there are many meat products, aside from you can invent your own meat-based package/s.

Their coop is the proponent of the Marinduque Swine Meat Processing Subproject, with funding support from the PRDP approved in December 2021, for P14.7 Million. This is to finance a meat processing facility, storage building, vehicle for hauling & delivery, equipment for meat processing, other sets of tools – and supplies.

At the bottom of the image above, it says, “WE make CHANGE Work for WOMEN.” ANN says “WE make change work for women” is the slogan of the Philippine Commission for Women for observance during 2017-2022 (Author Not Named, 30 May 2022, “We Make Change Work For Women,” car.dole.gov.ph):

WE stands for Women Empowerment – empowering women enables them to confidently and meaningfully engage with appropriate institutions to ensure that they contribute to and benefit [from] development and changes.

I’m sorry that ANN does not say anything about how exactly the coop helps make change work for women.

Nevertheless, I take this story of Leonila Regio and a Marinduque cooperative as a wake-up call for women anywhere in the Philippines to help make a difference in their communities by way of livelihood with financial assistance of the DA via its project PRDP.@517