Liberal Economy

We just had this week the Abel Iloko Congress.  Abel Iloko is the product that Ilocos Sur chose as their OTOP (One Town One Product).  The Congress was organized by the DTI-Ilocos Sur.  Concerns and issues were tackled – capital to lower down the cost and make raw material more accessible, manpower (less younger people are interested in getting the skills), quality of product to compete (standardization), marketing.  In short almost all aspect.

On capital – the solution was to put up a raw material bulk buying center.  The capital is small – only 600,000.  Unfortunately, when I talked to a participant a day later, she says this is not the main issue.  It is the season, when sales are low – about 5-6 months in a year.  Their capital “sleeps” and they have no income to sustain the salary of their weavers.  Raw materials are bought in Manila. 

On manpower issue – solution was to incorporate in the elementary and high school curriculum the necessary skills.  However, there was concern on child labor which is punishable by law.  Another solution is to conduct short courses on handloom weaving – skills training.

Marketing.  I don’t think this is an issue because there are many orders but most of them refuse bulk orders because of fear that they might not be able to accomplish the orders.  Probably, the concern here is the marketing during low season.

Quality.  Speakers who came were from the Bureau of Product Standards and Philippine Textile Research Institute.  They created a committee that will look into this – that will involve the local stakeholders.  The advantage of this is, loomweavers may pool their resources and be able to sustain the needs of consumers and quality improved to compete in the world market.

I gave the closing remarks – centered on the importance of raw material bulk buying center – this will solve the issue on capital and quality of raw materials because this will be tested on different factors; come up with standards to compete with global market by 2010 and ability to pool finished products; but most of all, for all the loomweavers to unite because it is easier to negotiate with source of raw materials as well as buyers.  It is easier to get help from the different government agencies if they have only one voice.

So my next move, is probably look for a grant to put up the raw bulk buying center and innovate products which can be sold even during non-peak season.  Probably export! 

So if there is anyone there who could help us with this endeavor like any agency which grants this kind of help.

 CNN or Fox had this feature this evening – about liberals on charities.  Can you enlighten me on this?

Panching