Tags: Cottage Industries, Entrepreneurship
By KC Santos
BAYUGAN CITY, AGUSAN DEL SUR – The Integrated Conservation Solutions, Asia (ICS) seeks to help traditional weavers of the pinukpok cloth through sustainability and livelihood projects.
Integrated Conservation Solutions, Asia is currently helping nine weavers’ associations by providing assistance on entrepreneurship and maximizing their production methods.
“In Agusan, abaca producers and weavers have been accustomed to the ‘production to market’ cycle not knowing that they could produce something more unique than the fiber alone,” says Eduardo Rosales, ICS Community Organizer.
With financial aid from international non-government organizations (NGOs), Rosales says ICS is able to tap communities whose livelihood is related to abaca production.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also pitched in by providing additional consultancy in the training, transfer of knowledge, particularly in the making of pinukpok cloth.
Abaca fiber is the same raw material used for weaving sinamay, which is commonly turned into bags and other sturdy products. In pinukpok, the abaca fibers are manually pounded allowing weavers to create a softer material used to make garments.
The method of pinukpok is relatively new. This method originated in Bicol in the late 1990s.
Eduardo stresses that ICS is after enriching the skills and entrepreneurial perspectives of the communities.
“We really just want to see that change in their behavior toward work. Especially when they are pressured, their frustration becomes very evident. We try to change that and tell them that their works are noticed and appreciated,” he says.
The pinukpok cloth may not seem different from other local textiles but Eduardo says producing abaca fiber requires a lot more patience.
“The cloth itself is composed of 50 percent cotton and 50 percent abaca fiber because the fibers easily break. Also, these fibers are extensively thin so it’s not only eye-straining but also physically tiring to weave them,” Eduardo says.
Depending on the width, the ‘pinukpok’ cloth can cost from 280 to 450 pesos. Eduardo says this kind of cloth is as comfortable as other fabrics.
The project has gone a long way since it was launched last January with orders coming in from various parts of the country, he says. Eduardo hopes more people will be interested in products that enable rural communities to see their livelihood in a different light.
“This new venture was able to generate jobs. We just hope the weavers will have that enthusiasm and perseverance,” Eduardo says.
Get more information about Integrated Conservation Solutions, Asia
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