SSF seen to boost Toril’s handicraft makers

DAVAO CITY, May 15 – The provision of shared service facility (SSF) to a group of handicraft makers in Toril is expected to boost their productivity.

The provision of SSF is an initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) which aims to address the gaps and bottlenecks in the value chain.

With this initiative, a common service production center, where micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that need such facility can access, will be established.

The TorilKalambuan Association is a registered group with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

It is into the production of beautiful utility bags, wallets, folders and garden pots out of tetra packs. Waste tetra packs are collected instead of finding its way in the drainage which cause clogging or dumped in landfills.

Further, the group has not only helped save the environment, it has also provided an additional source of income to garbage collectors in memorial parks, students and residents in the community, who provide them a steady supply of empty tetra packs that they buy at P0.25 per piece.

In view of the wide marketability of the products made from the tetra packs, the sales of the association have tremendously increased since it started in 2011.

The association generated majority of their sales from the trade fairs which they participated in. However, it cannot cope up with the escalating demand because of one main limitation – owning just one sewing machine.

At present, the association only gets a monthly income of P8,000 from producing 300 pieces of bags, 900 garden pots, 300 organizers, 240 laundry bags, and 1,500 wallets.

With DTI’s SSF program, the group was provided with two heavy-duty sewing machines.

The association is expected to further innovate their products and triple their production volume, with the provision of additional sewing machines.

It is anticipated that by coming up with product innovations and by increasing their production volume, they will have a bigger opportunity to meet demands.

The Davao City Field Office (DCFO) of DTI revealed that the provision of additional equipment will help them generate three times the existing sales performance.

Apart from the equipment, DTI is also committed to assist them in marketing their products.

“The increasing awareness and call for us to save the environment has positively impacted on the demand for recycled products. Through this upcycled handicraft project of the association, we don’t only help save the environment but we also help their members earn more for their families,” DTI 11 Officer-in-Charge Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi said.

The TorilKalambuan Association SSF project is part of the 51 SSF projects approved last year, which totaled to P24 million. (DTI-11/JenMendoza)