LAGAWE, Ifugao (PIA) -- Twenty-four members of the Cudog Weavers Organization (CWO) in Lagawe town in the province of Ifugao underwent training on backstrap weaving in preparation for a weaving venture.

Grace Cayapa of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provincial office said the four-day training conducted from January 15-18, is part of the P1.3 million Project Baro that the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ (NGCP) grants to its host communities.

“Through consultation, the CWO identified weaving as their project. The training was conducted in partnership with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Ifugao to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills,” Cayapa said.

 Divina Calingayan, the project trainor, said the training is mainly to provide the participants with basic weaving skills before they level up into design-making and sewing to produce quality products.

Cayapa shared that Project Baro, a corporate social responsibility program of the NGCP, aims to promote and sustain the Ifugao weaving industry. The project aims to improve the economic conditions of its host communities by building their capacities, and opening up opportunities, and market linkages and access. 

The full package of assistance consists of project preparedness, skills enhancement, production including the procurement of equipment to marketing.  

Cayapa said the CWO will soon be mainstreamed to the regular programs of the DTI like product development and marketing services.  

CWO president Nelly Cablinan thanked the NGCP, PCCI-Ifugao Chapter and the DTI for selecting their organization as a beneficiary of this partnership project. (MBL-PIA Ifugao)