The Youth Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) of the Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 has yet again taken the region’s craftmanship up a notch by empowering the Indigenous Peoples (IP) Youth to preserve their skills and traditions and instill the culture of entrepreneurship as a source of livelihood in their community.

The successful implementation of this endeavor is a product of the collaborative effort of the agency and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Region 2.

Through YEP 2021, DTI R2 assisted six local IP communities and established five youth organizations and facilitated their registration to the Youth Organization Registration Program (YORP) of the National Youth Commission.

These were the Agta Youth Entrepreneurs (Cagayan), Kayapa IP Weavers & Sewers Association – Juniors (Nueva Vizcaya), Ivatan Youth Entrepreneurs (Batanes), Bago Tribe Entrepreneurs’ Association (Quirino), and Young Kankanaey Loom Weavers (Isabela) who were also able to craft 30 business plans.

YEP 2021, with the theme “Istilong Pinoy (IP): Pagsalin at Pagpapayaman ng Katutubong Kultura at mga Kasanayan”, along with its three components “Experience”, “Engage”, and “Expand”, was successfully implemented in all provinces of the region from September through November.

“Experience” highlighted the Launching Event and Information Session on Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) (RA 8371), Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSPs), and Cultural Preservation, Culture Sensitivity, 11 Building Blocks, and 6 Stages of Engagement.

“Engage” involved IP youths who did hands-on skills training on basic loom weaving, basket making, and bamboo handicrafts making. The crafts produced were traditional farming and fishing baskets, bamboo hats, and woven fabrics.

“Expand” counted in the IP youths who underwent entrepreneurial mind-setting and workshops on creating business plans, which focused on reviving and commercializing local handicrafts.

The said initiatives capacitated 154 IP youths and engaged 13 local cooperators.YEP culminated with a graduation ceremony and the awarding of livelihood kits composed of various handicraft-making tools and equipment to help them sustain and produce more crafts.

With the highest hopes, DTI R2 and NCIP R2 count on the IP youths to continue enhancing their craft and unleashing their potentials by venturing into business and sustaining the eagerness and commitment they have shown during the sessions. ♦

Release Date: 20 January 2022