PMPC’s Great Women Entrepreneurs

Women empowerment has always been part of the efforts of PMPC in strengthening its Gender and Development Program (GAD). With this, PMPC was prompted to engage with National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO) and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) in its Gender-Responsive Economic Actions for Transformation of Women Project 2 or GREAT Women Project 2 (GWP2), a project funded by the Government of Canada.

The project is in convergence with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Echosi Foundation and other private sector partners.

It aims to assist PMPC’s 45 women-member entrepreneurs to improve competitiveness for the growth and sustainability of their owned or managed enterprises. For the first phase, the following member-entrepreneurs from different branches were enrolled in the program:

• Fructosa Llana – Frux Food Products
• Nemesia Sta. Ana – Nemie’s Homemade Products
• Alicia Aguipo – Alice’s Best Food Products
• Lolita Pinoon – Rehoboth Agri Cooperative
• Arlene Mar – Arlene Mar Boutique
• Lisa Beltran – Katipunan Small Coconut Farmers MPC
• Leonora Vallente – Tolit’s Suka Pinasarap and Best Homemade Bagoong
• Sheryl Moyan – Moyan’s Homecare
• Elsa Cabangbang – Cabangbang Lumber and Furniture
• Jennydita Wong – Margrette’s Food Products
• Gavina Dunghao – GK Foods
• Noemi Haque – Boom Boom’s Cake
• Eleanor Yap – Vibes Products
• Rufina Anunciado – Barquillos’ Maker

These women-entrepreneurs were initially assisted through skills enhancements, trainings and seminar-workshops with all costs shouldered by GWP2 and PMPC. They undergone a 2 -day training on Green and Gender-Responsive Value Chain Approach (GGRVA) and Financial Literacy last December 17-18, 2018.

Last February 27-March 2, 2018, they were sent to Ultrawinds Mountain Resort, Bukidnon for the Grassroots Entrepreneurship and Management (GEM) Seminar along with other program beneficiaries from other cooperatives in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The 4-day seminar-workshop, together with all its highly competent and experienced speakers, have imparted to them the value of Self Mastery, Situation Mastery and Enterprise Mastery. The members were taught how to manage their enterprises considering its financial aspects, marketing and human resources, among other factors.

PMPC is still looking forward for more opportunities for capability building and support provision for the women-entrepreneurs, not just for those enrolled in the program, but for all members as PMPC heightens gender equality and equity.