DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – A group of women in Manaoag town in Pangasinan are transforming agriculture by joining Kabalikat sa Kabuhayan (KSK) sustainable agriculture livelihood program.
Ninety four of the 100 participants of the program which was launched at SM City Urdaneta Central, are women.
The program, which targets four barangays in Manaoag, namely Baguinay, Matolong, Parian, and Mermer, aims to equip residents with essential agricultural skills and knowledge to establish sustainable livelihoods.
Arlene Calimlim, 33, from Barangay Parian, emphasizes the program’s transformative impact.
“We can learn to plant crops to improve our lives and not just rely on our husbands,” she stated.
Evelyn Jade Niedo, 29, from Barangay Matolong, echoed this sentiment, expressing her aspiration to establish her own sustainable farming business.
“I’ll keep learning everything I can from this. After I graduate, I plan to apply the knowledge I have gained to my own business, which I believe I will pursue even if I’m alone,” she said.
The KSK program, an initiative of SM Foundation Inc., aligns with the vision of its founder, Henry Sy Sr., to enhance food security and provide livelihood opportunities for low-income Filipino farmers.
The program is a collaborative effort involving the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Science and Technology, and the local government of Manaoag.
Training sessions, which commenced on March 15 and will continue every Saturday for 14 weeks, are supported by a P2 million seed capital fund from the DSWD.
This financial support is intended to enable participants to launch their own agricultural enterprises.
Rogerio Bismonte III, regional partnership officer of DSWD Field Office 1, highlighted the program’s developmental goals.
“Our mandate in the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program is to raise the standard of living of our poor countrymen,” he explained.
He added, “And with this partnership with the SM Foundation, the establishment of livelihood projects or integrated farms, we aim to address the problem of poverty and, of course, hunger.”
Abraham Malicdem, mall manager of SM City Urdaneta Central, emphasized the program’s role in empowering indigent citizens.
“Through this program, we want the indigent citizens to acquire all the knowledge and skills from various agencies for them to have a livelihood and source of income,” he said.
The KSK program is committed to providing continuous support for five years, including capacity building, partnership connections, assistance with product marketing, and quarterly monitoring, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the participants’ enterprises.
The increased participation of women in Pangasinan’s agriculture sector represents a significant stride towards gender equality and economic empowerment.
By providing women with the necessary resources and skills, the KSK program is fostering sustainable livelihoods and contributing to the region’s overall development. (AMB/EMSA/SBBL, PIA Pangasinan)
