Kinder by Aboitiz assist coops through Project [RE]start
Aboitiz Foundation, in partnership with Aboitiz business units, recently turned over “restarter kits” to three cooperatives located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The funds for the kits came from Kinder By Aboitiz, a crowdfunding platform created by Aboitiz Foundation that makes it easy and accessible for people to donate and promote a culture of generosity.
The Livelihood Recovery Project for Partner Cooperatives and Associations Nationwide or “Project [RE]start” supports partner cooperatives by donating “restarter” kits such as farm inputs and sewing materials. These kits will help organizations rebuild their cooperatives and support the livelihood in local communities.
One of the beneficiaries is Lamut Multipurpose Cooperative (MPC) based in La Trinidad, Benguet. The coop’s main business is cut flower production. However, due to the COVID 19 restrictions and lockdowns, the Lamut MPC could not bring the flowers to Baguio public market and Dimasalang market in Manila. With no buyers, Lamut MPC members decided to shift to vegetable farming during the early part of the community quarantine. Now, with the easing of quarantines and opening of markets, they are seeing more demand for new products such as potted plants.
In partnership with Hedcor Inc., the cooperative received additional farm inputs such as fertilizer and flower seeds. Lamut MPC would like to take advantage of the “plantito” and “plantita” trend or those who enjoy taking care of plants so they thought of selling potted flowering plants such as anthuriums, mums and daisies.
“The goal of this project is anchored on two things — to help our partner cooperatives to recover from their economic losses and build resilient enterprises to help them face future economic downturns. Restarter kits for instance, can help enterprises overcome damaged supply chains by tapping into a wider range of customers and alternate suppliers.,” said Aboitiz Foundation President and COO Maribeth L. Marasigan.
A member of the SAKADAB cooperative tries out the new sewing materials given by Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. to help them produce more tote bags that they can sell.
Other recipients of the Project [RE]start are members of Samahan ng may iba’t-ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw (SAKADAB), a group of differently-abled individuals in the Gawad Kalinga community in Los Amigos, Davao City.
SAKADAB through Davao Light and Power Co., received sewing supplies and materials such as fabric, pins and pincushions, thread, and needles, which will be used to resume production of tote bags and other products, and expansion of their sewing business.
“Una, ang SAKADAB mapasalamaton og daku sa Davao Light ug sa Aboitiz Foundation ug sa mga indibidwal nga nahimong tulay para mahatag sa amoa ang mga sewing materials. Makatabang kini kanamo para sa among livelihood. Ingun nga nagasugod na kami og panahi karon og mga product nga mga eco bags. Daghan gyud kaayong salamat. God bless you more.” (First of all, SAKADAB is grateful to Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation and to everyone who became instruments for us to receive these sewing materials. This is such a big help for our livelihood. We are already starting to sew products like eco bags. Thank you so much. God bless you more),” said SAKADAB President Ludivico G. Mascariñas Jr.
Another beneficiary of the project is Cobcawa Multipurpose Cooperative, an organization composed of 120 farmer-members from the upland area of Sitio Cobcawa in Adlaon, Cebu City.
The cooperative will also receive farm inputs from Aboitiz Foundation and Visayan Electric Company.
Project [Restart] aims to support our partner cooperatives and MSMEs nationwide to begin anew their operation and recover from the economic loss brought about by the pandemic. The project is under the Enterprise Development of Aboitiz Foundation which supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth.
