Livelihood associations in Kalibo, Aklan assisted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) turn solid wastes, such as car and bicycle tires, into chairs, tables, and other furniture and displays.

In its continued effort to provide livelihood opportunities and improve the lives of poor Filipinos, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Field Office in Region VI has partnered with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Kalibo, Aklan to help underprivileged residents in the municipality, especially those living near the dump site, to earn an income by recycling solid wastes. This is also an effort to help address the waste management problem in the municipality.

“Nakita po kasi namin na isa sa mga problema sa dumpsite ay maraming basura na nakatambak katulad ng gulong na ‘di nabubulok. Kaya naman naisipan naming i-mobilize ang mga residente ng barangay para mag-recycle at kumita ng pera (We have seen that one of the problems in the dump site is that there is a pileup of solid wastes like car tires. This is why we mobilized the residents to recycle and at same time earn money),” said Kalibo LGU Solid Waste Enforcer, John Peter Madula.

DSWD FO VI provided skills training to the residents through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), teaching them how to make house furniture and decorative displays using different solid wastes.

Eventually, several livelihood associations were formed in the municipality. Among them is the Society of Tire Upcyclers for a Better Kalibo (STUB Kalibo), which is composed of male beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the flagship poverty-alleviation program of the Department.

STUB Kalibo was organized by the Solid Waste Management Service (SWMS) of the municipality. The association collects used car and bicycle tires and recycles them into tables and chairs of different designs.

“Malaking tulong po itong livelihood program para sa amin kasi pwede namin ito magamit upang itaguyod ang aming mga pamilya at pati narin ang aming komunidad (This livelihood program is a great help to us because we can use this to support our family and to help our community),” STUB Kalibo President Anthony Ame said.

STUB Kalibo’s female counterpart, the Association of Women Recyclers of Kalibo (AWARE Kalibo) is also thankful for the livelihood opportunity provided to them. The group recycles plastic wastes and turns these into tote bags, wallets, coin purses, and water bottles.

“Ito pong wallet at water bottle holder ay gawa sa plastic bag na patapon na. Ito po ay gawa sa basura na aming ginupit-gupit at pinagdugtong-dugtong para gawing produkto (These wallet and water bottle holder are made of plastic wastes, which we collect, cut, and stitch to create products),” Gina Bautista, President of AWARE Kalibo shared while holding the sample products.

“Ang mga produktong ito ay naisipan naming gawin sa tulong ng SWMS upang kumita at makatulong makabawas sa mga basurang nakatambak sa dumping site, kasi ito iyong main concern ng Kalibo. Matagal ma-decompose ang plastik at nakakasira ito sa kalikasan (With the help of SWMS, we have come up with these products to earn money while helping lessen the garbage piled up in our dumping site, because this is the main concern of Kalibo. Plastic products do not decompose easily and are harmful to the environment),” Gina added.

Another group, the Association of Pantawid Pamilya Recognizing Organic Vocation for Environment (APPROVE) Marketing Cooperative, was formed and is serving as the mother association of all livelihood groups in the municipality that create products out of solid wastes.

Working and earning from home

According to Gina, the livelihood initiative is a great help to mothers like her who were given opportunities to earn while working from the comfort of their homes and while still being able to attend to the needs of their respective families.

“Nakakapag-trabaho kami kahit sa bahay, habang nanonood ng telebisyon o nag-aalaga ng anak. Nakakatulong kami sa mga asawa namin kumita(Through this initiative, we can work and earn even from home — we can work even while we’re watching television or taking care of our children. We’re able to help earn for our families),” she said.

The sample products of the livelihood associations are currently displayed at the APPROVE Marketing Cooperative office in D. Maagma Sr. Street in Kalibo. To further help the beneficiaries promote their products, the tourism office of the municipality is planning to provide a showroom where the groups could display their products to prospective buyers.

“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DSWD at sa LGU ng Kalibo para sa pagkakataong ito. Sana mas marami pang mahihirap na residente sa aming komunidad ang matulungan ng inisyatibong ito (We are very thankful to the DSWD and the LGU of Kalibo for this opportunity. I hope that this initiative will be able to help more poor residents in our community),” Gina said with gratitude.

SLP is a community-driven enterprise development program of the DSWD that helps develop the entrepreneurial and labor skills of poor households by providing them with opportunities to enhance their access to basic social services and standard of living. ###