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Thursday, 30 January 2025 01:31

Social enterprise initiatives in Bangsamoro communities, a pathway to economic resiliency

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JANUARY 27, 2025. For Ato Ambatawan, a community leader in Barangay Datalpandan, Guindulungan, Maguindanao del Sur, the knowledge gained from the social enterprise training is a “pathway that educates us about better livelihood strategies towards economic resiliency”.

His organization is among the participating- groups to the mushroom production training conducted as one initiative related to social enterprise promotion in Bangsamoro communities.

“This training is indeed good and practical because the materials needed are easily available. We learn not only the technical process but also the wisdom and useful tips to manage, operate and sustain it”, Ambatawan said.

The group of Ambatawan along with other two people’s organizations completed a 3-day training on mushroom production identified as potential social enterprise activity based on the available resources in their respective villages.

In the training conducted, participants learned that local materials which are usually disposed can be still useful for economic and environmental benefits like corncobs, sawdust and rice straws.

“In our village, it takes us one week to burn down corncobs that occupies so much space in our farm land. Now, we learned its benefits and potentials to produce mushroom that we can consume or sell”, another group stated.

In Lanao del Sur, a group of women from Barangay Lilod in Balindong municipality has started producing handicraft materials made of water hyacinth that is abundant in their village located along the Lake Lanao.

Kayupo (water hyacinth) has been a problem because it grows and increases rapidly that causes damage to our houses. Now, we discovered that we can make handicrafts from it like handbags, slippers, and more. We can make money from our problem before”, Rakima Kamaos of Brgy. Lilod women group stated.

According to the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA Inc.), the initiative towards social enterprise remains part of the continuing assistance to community groups in the Bangsamoro.

“These groups are already operating with their respective livelihood activities, and the purpose for social enterprise is for them to be able to expand their services by producing items not only for economic gains but also helps in environmental protection”, BDA conveyed.

At present, BDA is on constant monitoring while in the process of procurement for the needed tools and equipment that would help these groups pursue their social enterprise activities.

This initiative on social enterprise development in Bangsamoro communities works for Output 5.5. Self-help and social enterprise interventions are widely promoted in the BARMM of the SUBATRA-ECSO project.

SUBATRA-ECSO: Enhancing CSOs Capacities for Inclusive Development Interventions in BARMM in Support to Bangsamoro Transition, is funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

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