Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda (right) shares to DTI VI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon (center) the needs of the residents in Brgy. Baldoza in Lapaz, Iloilo. A number of residents here produce and supplies native delicacies to several store outlets in the metropolis and nearby areas like fried lumpia, ‘suman,’ and ‘puto lanson,’ among others.

DTI VI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon discuss to Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda the possible interventions that the DTI could extend to the residents of Brgy. Baldoza in Lapaz, Iloilo City. A number of residents here produce native delicacies being sold in stores and nearby areas like fried lumpia, ‘suman,’ and ‘puto lanson,’ among others.

DTI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon and Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda are collaborating with each other on the possible projects to improve the working condition of micro entrepreneurs in the metropolis.

On Friday, October 18, Baronda brought Rascon in Brgy. Baldoza in Lapaz, Iloilo City to show a group of people here producing various native delicacies like fired lumpia, ‘suman,’ ‘puto lanson,’ and ‘becho-becho,” among others.

Baronda said the residents have been into this kind of business for a few decades already.

These delicacies are either supplied in restaurants, displayed in local stores or being sold by hawkers in the city and nearby areas. But, until now government intervention has yet to reach them.

Baronda said that she had been reaching out to the constituents on possible programs and initiatives to improve their livelihood. And, instead of these people visiting her office, she prefers to immerse with them to identify the problem and recognize the interventions needed.

Rascon and Baronda also visited a group of seamstresses producing bags in adjacent Brgy. Kaingin, also in Lapaz. Baronda said that the community had been producing bags made of ‘katcha’ cloth.

Rascon said that the DTI could “bring our programs and projects to these communities” such as the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay and linking with possible funding from the Pondo sa Pagbabag at Pag-asenso (P3) Program with the Small Business Corporation.

“We have trainings and seminars to improve their products and their packaging. Qualified beneficiaries can also avail our Shared Service Facility Project (SSF),” she said. Rascon expressed willingness to work with Baronda’s office to have these into realization soon.♦

Date of Release: 22 October 2019