Soap making livelihood program for women

As Platinum Group Metals Corporation (PGMC), through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Department, continues to foster stable community growth and development to mitigate the impact of its activities not only toward the environment but also the people and the larger scale of the community, the four-day Soap Making Technical and Business Management Training tagged as Prosperity and Growth for the Mother’s and Women of Claver under the CY 2013 Health Education Livelihood Propaganda – People (HELP – PEOPLE) Program, was implemented last August 21-24, 2013 at G-Anne’s Diner, Claver, Surigao del Norte. The activity was participated by the women’s sector of the municipality to promote a sustainable livelihood program and to uplift not only the lives of the participants but also their families and their communities.

The first day of the training kicked-off with the opening ceremony and the Soap Making Technical Training – Workshop. The ceremony was graced by Ms. Liza C. Budtan, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Provincial Director of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of Surigao del Norte. With her was Ms. Lilian B. Tiorosio, Technical Education and Skills Development (TESD) Specialist II. The opening was also attended by personalities from PGMC, Engr. Eduardo S. Tan, Technical Support Services Department (TSSD) Manager and Ms. Loribelle S. Zamora, Human Resource (HR) Supervisor.

Ms. Budtan acknowledged PGMC’s effort in extending so much support not only to its employees, host and neighboring communities but also to the non-mining barangays of Claver. She also raised the fact that such opportunity ought to be valued since it doesn’t happen every day. She encouraged the participants to give the business opportunity their best shot and a better and brighter tomorrow looms for them and their families.

The Soap Making Technical Training Workshop was facilitated by Engr. Renato S. Corvera, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Agusan del Norte and Ms. Anna Jane A. Corvera, both proprietors of Jane’s Essence Home and Body Care of Butuan City.

Training kits (including uniforms, technical training supplies and materials, detergent powder, dishwashing liquid and fabric conditioner sets, pails, basins, stirring ladles, aprons, hair nets, face masks, etc.) were distributed by the CSR team to each participant to ensure that everyone has everything handy while on the training – workshop. Four-day fare allowances were also given to guarantee that no interferences may occur, not even financial limitations which may result to nonappearance of the participants.

Aside from showing the participants the step – by - step technical procedures of making detergent powder, dishwashing liquid and fabric conditioner, Engr. Corvera also gave pointers on how to start and sustain a business for the new entrepreneurs.

The first day ended with noticeable glee and optimism on the participants faces. Questions streamed from eager women who, even on the first day, have shown so much interest on the company’s endeavor to provide not just a livelihood program but a sustainable source of income to the community.

Since the CSR team has envisioned the need not only to offer a livelihood program intended for the women’s sector but to provide a sustainable source of income for them, their families and their communities, a two-day Business Management Training was also incorporated on the program to assess and develop the entrepreneurial skills of the participants.

Ms. Judith Asegurado, Administration Officer V and Ms. Lillian Tiorosio, Technical Education and Skills Development Specialist II, both from TESDA Surigao del Norte arranged trainings and workshops for the participants not only to introduce the importance of starting a business but to provide techniques on sustainable business management.

The closing and graduation ceremony on August 24 was headed by Police Deputy Director General (PDDG) Geary L. Barias, Vice President (VP) for Security and Corporate Social Responsibility together with Engr. Eduardo S. Tan, Manager of the Technical Support Services Department (TSSD).

Mr. Ernesto Sulapas, Claver Municipal Administrator graced the event on behalf of the Municipal Mayor, Hon. Eddie P. Gokiangkee. Also present were training personnel from TESDA Surigao del Norte, Ms. Judith Asegurado, Administration Officer V and Ms. Lillian Tiorosio, Technical Education and Skills Development Specialist II and the proprietor of Jane’s Essence Home and Body Care, Engr. Renato Corvera, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of DTI Agusan del Norte.

Prior to the formal graduation exercises, the trainers provided feedback and evaluation to the participants’ performances and gave other short advices to the soon-to-become entrepreneurs. The trainees also gave messages of gratitude to the trainees and the company.

The four-day Soap Making Technical and Business Management Training-Workshop officially concluded with fifty seven (57) graduates from the host and neighboring communities, Brgys. Cagdianao and Hayanggabon respectively, from the non-mining barangays, Cabugo, Wangke, Panatao, Sapa, Bagakay, Tayaga, Magallanes, Daywan, Ladgaron and Lapinigan, and the wives of the employees from the company’s Mine Production Department (MPD).

A post-training forum has already been planned to be initiated on the second week of November this year to directly address the new entrepreneurs’ issues and concerns regarding the products after the Soap Making Technical and Business Management Training and to promptly provide expert counseling to ensure success on the business venture.