About 20 Dumagats in Sitio Karahumi, barangay San Isidro in San Jose Del Monte City benefitted from the basic sewing training of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Entitled “Draft and Cut Pattern for Casual Apparel leading to Dressmaking NC II”, it was held from June 14-July 5 by TESDA Bulacan and Provincial Training Center (PTC) Calumpit in partnership with the city government.
“This is part of our Abot Lahat program and an initiative of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict which TESDA Bulacan leads,” TESDA Regional Director Balmyrson Valdez said.
Sitio Karahumi is a remote and depressed area situated near the boundary of Bulacan and Rizal. It has been purportedly declared as an ancestral domain.
“Dumagats learned how to sew and produce face masks, pillow cases, bed sheets, curtains and other household essentials; products that could potentially earn them income thru home-based livelihood pursuits,” Valdez shared.
The three-week training program is also part of PTC-Calumpit’s gender and development program.
Trainees utilized 10 sewing machines which were donated by the Office of San Jose Del Monte Lone District Representative Rida Robes.
After their sewing course, the graduates were then trained on how to produce dishwashing liquid, another household essential that could further help establish sustainable livelihood activities in their community.