La Li Weavers Association

La Libertad is a fourth class municipality of Oriental Negros located in the northern part of the province. The town of Guihulngan in the north, Tañon Strait in the east, the municipality of Jimalalud in the south, and by the municipality of Binalbagan of Occidental Negros in the west bound it. The town is accessible by land transportation from the provincial capital, Dumaguete City that is 104.7 kilometers away.

The town has a total land area of 17,480 hectares comprising 29 barangays, six (6) of which are coastal barangays, while the rest are mountain settlements. Narrow coastal plains that give way to rolling, hilly rugged mountains and gentle slopes towards the interior portion characterize the town.

La Libertad has a total estimated population of 35, 122 with 7,004 households (NSO, 2000). The urban population is 2,983 while coastal population is 8,323. The population density of the municipality is 3 per hectare. The average household size is 5. The annual growth rate is 1.60 % (NSO, 2000)

The municipality also has one (1) major watershed and four (4) sub-watersheds that service the needs of water for the four (4) major irrigation systems and domestic water requirements of the municipality.

The major crops produced are rice, corn, root crops, banana and mango while tobacco, peanuts, cassava, vegetables and other fruit trees grown as minor crops. The existing agricultural area is 8,400.56 hectares or 48% of the municipal area. However, only 4,415 hectares are fully developed. This constitutes only 52 % of the total agricultural area. The other 48 % or 2,119.20 hectares is either open space, pasture lands or untilled farmlands. Thus, most of the residents in the area are engaged in farming as a source of income.

The municipality is rich in natural resources but its people still experiencing economic hardship due to crude type of farming and lack of capital accessibility for entrepreneurial activities. Thus, farmers have low income characterized by low farm production and insufficiency of farm inputs. The recent situation of the municipality has caught the attention of the present leadership of the Local Government of La Libertad to think for alternative livelihood or prospective enterprises that could answer the problem.

In rural areas, women sector has the most idle time for they always stay at home or left behind in the community. In terms of alternative livelihood, they are the most potent to carry out such.

•In relation to this, one of the strategies of the LGU - through the Department of Agriculture, is by organizing people’s organizations especially women’s organization in every barangay to let them aware and be empowered of their right as potent partner for the economic growth of the municipality and to the country as well.

•After consultations, with the women’s organizations, they come up proposals for several economic activities depending on the availability of materials and skills and capability of the organization to manage the project/enterprise per organization.

•As a result, PANDAN BAG AND MAT WEAVING PROJECT is identified.

La libertad Weavers' Association

>is a group of skilled weavers specializing in making native product using pandan as a raw material.

>it is once a statement of the association's goal to preserve the traditional skills and art and inherent to their next generation.

>members are 90% women and 10% men, mostly resides in Barangay Mapalasan, Pangca, Solonggon, and Cangabo.

>was organized in November 10, 2004 and was registered last February 28, 2006 with the department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)


VISION

To pursue the traditional skills and arts by producing quality pandan handicrafts in La Libertad that will provide employment opportunities, develop the agricultural sector, thereby increasing productivity and income among its members, and contribute to socio-economic development of the municipality.

MISSION

To develop the skills of the weavers' of the association to produce quality pandan handicrafts;

To produce quality pandan handicrafts of different designs that are in demand and competitive to national as well as international market;

To acquire tools, equipments and other facilities necessary for the efficient production of quality pandan handicrafts;

To establish a display center/showroom in La Libertad for production promotion and marketing;

To link with other government agencies like the DTI, DOST, TESDA,DOLE as well as other non-government organization that shall contribute to the development of pandan handicrafts.

GOALS

To Enhance the skills of the weavers by conducting trainings on product designing, dyeing, bleaching, and other techniques to improve product quality.

To establish at least ten (10) hectares of pandan plantation at Barangay Mapalasan, Maragondong, Pangca, Cangabo, Mandapaton, Aniniaw, Solonggon, Talayong, Cantupa, Pisong, Martilo, Sanjose and Manghulyawon with the Technical Assistance of the LGU Municipal agriculture Office.

To submit project proposals to government agencies as well as Non-Government Organizations for possible funding assistance for the acquisition of tools, equipments and other facilities, as well as the povision of technical assistance.

To seek assistance from the Local Government Unit for the establishment of the display center/showroom.

To enhance alliance building with government agencies, NGOs to provide the necessary support for the sustainability of La Libertad Weavers’ Association and product development.

To integrate values education in the conduct of technical trainings to the weavers’ association