A “Project Zero” initiative is being implemented at the PLDT-Smart Amazing Gawad Kalinga Village in Sooc, Arevalo District in Iloilo City.
Project Zero, a zero unemployment and zero carbon emission program, seeks to help residents earn income from recycling Smart’s billboard and banner tarpaulin materials into school bags, handbags and tents.
Smart recently partnered with GKonomics, the Philippine Business for Social Progress and lifestyle designer PJ Aranador, to help GK residents design and create marketable tarpaulin products.
Aranador gathered 40 men and women for a training on weaving techniques. The participants had hands-on sessions on forms and shapes.
Being an advocate of simple yet functional designs that are loaded with cultural references and a sense of origin, Aranador said he wanted to anchor the project on the theme “Culture heritage environment arts.”
The design scheme involves the interpretation of traditional and mythical design motifs into contemporary works of art. This means that the designers could incorporate underwater creatures in Filipino myths or the architecture of antillan houses built in Iloilo during the Spanish occupation into their designs.
Aranador was pleased with the initial outcome as the participants delivered “fantastic results in three days.”
Currently, trainings are being lined up to help the residents further develop creative design abilities and enhance their sewing and weaving skills.
Herminia Pineda, vice president of Kabitbahayan, the Smart Amazing GK Village, said the villagers were hoping to have quality control, marketing and branding mechanisms so they can market their products early next year.