‘Asenso’ program helps women earn a living

Fifty-three livelihood products were created to help women in the sixth district earn money at the comfort of their own homes.

The initiative is under the “Asenso Sixto” livelihood program of Sixth district Rep. Luis “Luigi” Gabriel Quisumbing that seeks to benefit women and their families from Mandaue City and the towns of Consolacion and Cordova.

The concept of the program was first brought by the congressman’s mother, Elizabeth “Betsy” Quisumbing.

In an interview, Elizabeth said that aside from earning a living, the livelihood products will also help the beneficiaries reduce their garbage.

The finished products were sold at P100 each. These included Christmas decors made from cigarette wrappers and rosary beads made of rolled magazines or newspapers.

Elizabeth said the recyclable items, such as old telephone directories, magazines, newspapers, scrap metals, plastics, used clothing and tussles, were mostly acquired from people who chose to donate them rather than throwing them.

Project coordinator Dimples de Guzman said beneficiaries don’t need to go out of their house since the raw materials of livelihood products will be delivered right at their doorsteps. She said beneficiaries will just create the products in their house so they can look after their children while working.

De Guzman said the program mostly began with mothers, but it later extended to other family members after it turned out successful.

She said the staff of Quisumbing were also trained on the program and shared their knowledge to other constituents from all the 61 participating barangays in the sixth district.

De Guzman said the finished products will be bought by the young Quisumbing, while those left will be sold to other customers.

Elma Bunaos, 40, a recipient of the program who also works as manicurist of barangay Nangka, Consolacion town, in northern Cebu, said she was able to send her four children to school with the income she got from making waive baskets, wine bags, rosaries, cellular phone holders and others.

Bunaos said she separated from her husband a few years ago and the livelihood program helped them a lot.

Though her husband gives financial support, she said it is still not enough for her big family.

Another beneficiary, salon owner Jackie Sumalinog, 39, married, gave up her salon to focus on the livelihood program, which made her earn a lot more than she expected.

“Mas enjoy man pud ko kay naa ra sa balay. Dili pud nako mabiyaan akong pamilya (I enjoy doing in the house. I also can’t leave my family alone),” she said.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, said their products are in demand locally, but they are still planning to reach a wider market abroad for their wallets produced in Consolacion.  REPORTER JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS