1 minute read
SIGLAT Women’s Association: Empowered by Science, Technology, and Innovation
The Samahan ng mga Interesado, Gagawin Lahat para Aangat Tayo (SIGLAT) Women’s Association, with over thirty-two (32) members in the far-flung barangay of San Ramon East of Manabo, Abra, is now a supplier of different fruit wines, muscovado sugar, “basi”, sugarcane vinegar and sugarcane juice after the S&T interventions provided by the Department of Science & Technology - Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR).
Advertisement
The association was established in 2020 with the goal of using chicken farming as a source of income. However, because of the abundance of their agricultural products like sugarcane, bananas, and mangoes, the members shifted to food production.
It was in December 2021 that they sought the help of the Department of Science & Technology for project collaboration. A project fund of PhP 398,000.00 was approved under the Local Grants-In-Aid program titled “Science & Technology Intervention for the Improvement of the Sugarcane Processing of SIGLAT Women’s Association.”
Through the project, DOST has provided equipment, processing center layout, Training on Fruit Wine Processing, product laboratory analysis, and appropriate packaging and labeling design with initial printing of the packaging materials.
In an interview with Manabo LGU Rural Based Organization Coordinator, Ms. Rona Brillantes, she said that the SIGLAT women are now benefitting from the different interventions provided by the DOST, making them one of the top active associations in the municipality and still aims to widen their productivity by increasing their product reach.
The association has grown from 20 to more than 30 members, from household consumption to 14 varieties of commercially available products. To date, you can already find the SIGLAT Women’s Association products in the Abra province and some stores in Metro Manila and Ilocos Region.
The SIGLAT Women’s Association proves that women’s role in today’s world has changed significantly and for the better. The story of this group is a reminder that women don’t have to conform to certain stereotypes and women entreprenuers can break the barriers.
