Promoting Boracay WOMEN Economic Empowerment Project

The ladies come and go every day. Enjoying their small little place along the highway. While they have tried to earn a living from selling herbal products like soaps, oils, capsules, fresh produce and cooking/baking snack items from the root crops.

Anticipating growth of the group, they sought the assistance of the Local Government Unit (LGU) in 2015. Every Sunday, they would go to Tambisaan beach and would allocate at least 2 hours for themselves to get together for their dose of spiritual Bible Hour, invite guests to give inspiration/testimony, bond and discuss ideas, projects for their enjoyment and welfare, Activities, loans and trainings, in particular.

With the support of the LGU, BWPC attended trainings and seminars by ATI, DA, MAO and TESDA. They became a beneficiary of Red Cross Box of Biscuits, Trading store of San Miguel Food Products and eventually by the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program for 4Ps BWPC members.

For the women sector to participate in the success of the No. 1 island in the world, they lobbied to LGU that Organic Boracay should be an integral part of tourism promotion of Boracay to recognize the women sector as the lead group in this campaign. They also believe that agriculture should grow as fast as tourism.

They launched “Organic Boracay” to popularize that Boracay is serving safe food thru organic farming, “Botanicals Boracay” to promote the use of herbs as natural medicine, food as medicine, eco cosmetics production, and “Beautify Boracay” for cleanliness, health and beautification using vegetables, herbs, tropical flowers and planting of fruit trees in terms of landscaping design.

Until they felt the loss of support from LGU, which led to slowly loss of their members and their livelihood on herbs and root crops. They lost their Women’s Center too. But they continued with their mission that turned even more active and they went into a lot of volunteerism, Bayanihans, skills & self-improvement trainings, alliances, participation to governance which became an opportunity to revive their livelihood in herbs, root crops with the addition of Gumamela, indian mangoes and coconuts. The events inspired the birth of the Boracay Women Producers Cooperative in 2015.

They legalized their Organization by registering to CDA. They were able to open a current and savings account with PNB Boracay with P50,000.00 as their opening balance.

Their challenging goals are to create and provide Women sustainable jobs and livelihood that are aligned with their mission, share their knowledge, experiences and expertise on Sustainability, Empowerment and Significance.

With the little savings, they tried their hands on manufacturing soaps using the traditional ingredients such as wood ash, rain water with Gumamela extract, explored more food products using the indian mangoes, coconuts and Boracay’s culture coffee Sara Sara from rice. Since they do not have enough money but rich in natural resources and passionate on their mission, they did research using You Tube and other social media platforms.

In 2016, they registered to BIR and local permits, recordkeeping and bookkeeping in place.

After they have met the list of requirements, PAGCOR gave them a Grant as seed capital of P600,000.00 for the development and mass production of their products.

They were able to hire two (2) processing staff and two (2) store staff, with about 30 part timers/volunteers on rotation basis since they leased out a 300sqm house and lot as their HERitage Hub where they process their products, hold office, established a vegetable garden, a mini multi-purpose area for trainings, meetings, arts & crafts and guest rooms with a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.

They launched the selling of their products during cruise arrivals courtesy of the Port Administrator. However, they were suddenly stopped after 3 arrivals. They were having good sales then.

2018 came. President Duterte’s pronouncement on Boracay as a cesspool. THEN CAME THE CLOSURE. They didn’t know what to do, especially they have families who are dependent on them and bills to pay. Their HERitage Hub sits on a Forest land and a no built zone so they needed to vacate as per DENR, their Community Mart was in violation of the road easement law so they needed to self-demolish and a disputed property made them struggle to get business permits from the Barangay and LGU.

Various government agencies like DA, DTI, TESDA, DOST started to present themselves to them with various trainings and projects for their survival during the closure but, “THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL”, is the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - INTEGRATED LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM (DILP) GRANT of ONE MILLION PESOS (Php1,000,000.00) for the ENHANCEMENT their COMMUNITY MART & HERitage HUB that gave a big boost to their cooperative sources of livelihood that became an enterprise.

Their members are composed of Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Employees and Housewives. There are a number of single mothers and senior citizens. They realized that the 6 month temporary closure of the Island became a blessing to them.

Boracay Women Producers Cooperative (BWPC)aspires to have a “Place of their Own” free from rentals and showcases Organic Urban Farm (Green Houses), putting up Food Terminal or Organic Trading Post, Multi Product Processing Plant, Shared Service Facility (SSF) for Sewing, improvement of Hibiscus Gumamela Garden and Eco Technologies, engage into new livelihood undertakings such as Arts/Crafts and Tie Dying, Tumandok Restaurant and Souvenir Shop, Herbal Sauna and Spa, Home Stays and Multi-Purpose Center.

Their projection is that more than one hundred (100) women get to be employed in the formal sector should the Eco Agri Tourism Village get favorable reply from DENR, DOT & DAR where they can welcome tourists and guests, present themselves properly, will able to book events and trainings, interactively discuss about what they are doing and what they have done so far for values formation, health, environment, significance, empowerment, and sustainability. The activities that they do to DESERVE a LAND for an Eco-Agri Tourism Village: A Place of Women. A Sense of Pride. Women Empowerment.

PINAY BORACAY FARM VILLAGE “The Cultures of our Beautiful Boracay” Developing a Sustainable Community Enterprise for an Eco-Agro Tourism Boracay: A Locals Initiative --- A movement, a practice, a culture! “Agriculture should grow as fast as tourism” – DOT Region 6 Boracay is not just about the Atis “Kulot” as the aborigines. Boracay Island has a local population of about 25,000 of which 90% are original inhabitants, the Boracaynons “Unat”, other than the Atis. The Boracaynons “Unat” will now have a significant contribution and a defined identity to consider new income generating opportunities and to take part in the global achievements of the most beautiful island resort destination in the world: their very own Boracay Island. Bandiola, Maming, Gelito, Pelayo, Casimiro, Villanueva, Sacapano, Salibio to say the least, are such family names one can hear when people talk about the historical folks of Boracay. The Tirols as per the natives were just mere land buyers due to a senior Tirol’s government position as the Assessor of Aklan way before development has started in Boracay. To date, Boracay is hailed as one of the greatest beaches in the world. Boracay continues to be the Top Tourism Destination in the Philippines and top three in the world. Boracay dominates more than 75% of the tourism business in the Philippines with more than 5,000 establishment and large hotel groups operating in the island. What are the potential benefits? The initiatives are led by the Boracay Women Producers Cooperative with the Guardians International Brotherhood Federation (GIBF) – Boracay Chapter (Boracay Guardians Producers Cooperative). The promoters are in agreement that their beloved island has achieved so much globally but economically most of their fellow natives are still below poverty line and are struggling to beat high prices of living as an impact of tourism. But by locally producing its own food and medicine, the community enterprise focuses on a farm and non-farm enterprise that can be integrated into small enterprises to increase incomes, create jobs, enhance livelihoods and most importantly, introduce the cultures of Boracay as a people to be packaged in the (1) Pinay Boracay Farm Village, a 2 hectare arable land as the integrated venue for eco agri tourism for job creation program and (2) Kitaan sa Halaman, gulay-prutas-halamang gamot, ornamentals is the permission to use vacant arable properties for home-based vegetable-herbs gardening and beautification, fruit trees plantation as additional income livelihood of the natives. The products and services are suitable for meeting the demand of a growing, and already strong, local market such as hotels, resorts, restaurants for organic agriculture. These food establishments will now have the opportunity to extend its corporate social responsibility programs to the natives of Boracay and do collaborative venture in terms of their farm fresh produce requirements. They will not only avail of low priced or cheaper safe, healthy, clean and nutritious produce but also reduces carbon footprints to strengthen participation to the Greening Boracay campaign and launch Boracay as an Organic island. What are the locals/natives requirements and constraints? What are critical ‘success factors’? (1) The land appraisal for Boracay Island is agricultural. The land allocation, farm planning, start up manpower as growers, and financial support for seeds, seedlings, farm equipments and infrastructures for this endeavour will have a positive social impact should vacant private and public arable lands be used for agriculture and social purposes if only for a limited period of time such as the cash crops (4-5 months to harvest) with profit sharing scheme with the land owners of private properties and renewable if still not being used. (2) The government through the DENR thru RA 10629 awards about 1 to 2 hectares of Protected Area but arable land as the site of the Pinay Boracay Farm Village especially at Inner Lanas, Sitio Cabanbanan, Brgy. Manoc Manoc. (3) Contract growing and Purchase agreements with business people to consolidate production of their required farm fresh produce and the technical assistance from government agencies and experts in organic/natural farming and wellness industry for commercial scale production. The women’s coop will act as consolidator of these fresh produce for selling, distribution and processing. (4) The cultural side will be documented to revive Boracaynon historical survival food such as the root crop called Rema (bread fruit), also cassava, sweet potato and uraro as identity souvenir (pasalubong) snack food items or Boracay brand cakes, pies, chips and cookies, the Boracay brand herbal medicines and cosmetics, the Boracay brand arts and crafts manufacturing using the “Puka shells” as decor and fashion items, which according to the natives, gave a steady income before to Boracaynon women housewives. Boracay indigenous raw music, dances as well as sports for entertainment and recreation especially for children will also be featured to complete the cultural package of Boracaynons. The critical success factors are: (1) The support and participation of the locals/natives especially women to form the enterprise through the cooperative system for shared capital, dividends and ownership, (2) The permission and approval from the private landowners for urban or home-based gardening, permission and approval of DENR for the utilization of arable public lands thru RA 10629, (3) The support of the Barangay Council to mobilize natives who are growers/farmers to take the lead in farming, (4) Malay LGU for proper endorsements to GAs such as Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism and the Department of Health for government interventions and assistance, (5) The members of the Boracay Foundation, Inc. as contract growers and/or buyers. These groups will complete the Public Private Partnerships campaigned by the Philippine government. To realize Pinay Boracay Farm Village and Kitaan sa Halaman projects, the women’s coop has initially tapped the support for technical and financial assistance from: (1) Department of Agriculture for the Organic Trading Post, (2) Purisima Martinez Foundation for Women- Enrevo, Inc. for the mushroom production and herbal medicines and cosmetics processing plant, (3) BPI Global BanKO for the eco farm renewable technologies and organic farming purchase order funding. PINAY BORACAY FARM VILLAGE features, products and services: 1. FARMACY (an integrated organic demo farm for cash crop vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs with livestock, aqua and poultry) 2. TUMANDOK (Boracay Indigenous Food Restaurant Bar Cafe) 3. KULTURA BORACAY (Boracay Historical Museum, Gallery and Production House of Boracaynon Arts & Crafts, Music & Dances) 4. ORGANIC TALIPAPA (Safe Food Market for non chemical pesticide or naturally farmed fresh produce and certified organic produce and products) 5. PAMUNITAN (Aqua Ponds with Fishing Activity) 6. PA-ASO (Herbal Sauna and Pool) 7. PLANTA BORACAY (Boracay brand Food Products, Organic Medicines & Cosmetics Processing Plant) The Pinay Boracay Farm Village will use renewable resources technologies with zero waste management system. CHARACTERIZATION OF HEAVY METALS IN BORACAY ISLAND 15 August 2011 The rapid accumulation of sewage sludge from t he wastewater treatment facilities in Boracay Island raises alarming concerns in their disposal. Thus, there is a need to assess the heavy metals concentration of the sludge and explore the possibility of its utilization as biofertilizer for nearby agricultural lands while ensuring the environmental safety and tourism activities in the area. To address these concerns, Orlina et al. (ASU) evaluated the levels of heavy metals present in the soils and sewage sludge generated from households and commercial establishments in Boracay. Specifically, the study determined the levels of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and arsenic (As) in the sewage sludge and compared it with th standard levels. They also assessed the possibility of using sewage sludge as source of nutrients or biofertilizers. Findings • The concentrations of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Zn from the sludge in Boracay was very low compared to the critical values set by other countries like USA, Germany and Japan. This can be attributed to several factors such as improved effluent control, waste minimization, and theabsence of industries that serve as major source of heavy metal contamination. • Alimodian soil with sludge and San Miguel soil without sludge yielded very low levels of heavy metals based on the critical levels identifies by countries like USA, Germany, Canada, and Netherlands. • Based on the Igeo index, the soils were classified 'not contaminated with heavy metals that can cause environmental pollution." • The sludge contained high amount of organic matter, available NPK, and exhibited neutral pH makit it a potential component for biofertilizer. Considering that Boracay is only a small island with very fragile ecosystem, it is strongly recommended that decision concerning the utilization of sludge should take into account the bio-accumulative behavior of these metals. In terms of its potential as biofertilizer, there is a need to evaluate its effects in relation to the worsening cultural eutrophication problem in the island which can be attributed to the N and P enrichment from organic wastes. Source: Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development. Highlights 2008. Los Baños, Laguna: PCARRD, 2009. 272p. Reference: Orlina, E.; Manguiat, I.; Pacardo, E. Characterization of heavy metals in sewage sludge and soils in Boracay Island. Banga, Aklan; Aklan State University, 2008. - (Completed Project) PINAY BORACAY FARM VILLAGE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT & PROJECTIONS KITAAN SA HALAMAN: GULAY, PRUTAS, HALAMANG GAMOT, ORNAMENTALS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENT & PROJECTIONS: PROPOSED PRODUCTION OF START UP PRIMARY CASH CROPS: LETTUCES MUSHROOMS (OYSTERS/SHIITAKE/MILKY) CHINESE KANGKONG CUCUMBERS SECONDARY CASH CROPS (AS PROVIDED BY MAO MALAY): OKRA, SITAW, TALONG, AMPALAYA, PATOLA, KALABASA, GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES, RADDISH, PECHAY, TOMATOES PROPOSED PRODUCTION OF CULINARY HERBS: TURMERIC THAI GINGER (LANGKAWAS) NATIVE GINGER THYME ITALIAN OREGANO PARSLEY CELERY ROSEMARY DILL SWEET BASIL THAI BASIL LEMONGRASS MUSHROOMS PROPOSED PRODUCTION & PROCESSING OF MEDICINAL HERBS FOR CAPSULES, TEAS, OILS, SOAPS: NEEM TREE KAKAWATI MORINGA OLEIFERA (MALUNGGAY) CITRONELLA ACTIVATED CHARCOAL FROM NEEM, KAKAWATI, MALUNGGAY SAMBONG LAGUNDI TOMATOES (DRIED) PROPOSED PRODUCTION & PROCESSING OF “BORACAY BRAND” CULTURAL FOOD ITEMS AS IDENTITY PASALUBONG FOR CAKES, PIES, CHIPS , COOKIES, CANDIES, JAMS, PUDDINGS: REMA CASSAVA SWEET POTATO URARO PROPOSED PRODUCTION OF FRUIT TREES FOR FRESH OR PROCESSED PRODUCTS: FAST FRUITING: (BELOW ONE YEAR) DRAGON FRUIT PAPAYA (SINTA & RED LADY) WATER MELON BANANA (LAKATAN & SENORITA) SLOW FRUITING: (TWO YEARS & UP) KALAMANSI LANZONES RAMBUTAN CARABAO MANGOES GUAPPLE DURIAN AVOCADO