TAPAZ, Capiz – Aglinab PAMANA Livelihood Association, comprising 15 members with women having the majority number, is located in Brgy. Aglinab, Tapaz, Capiz. As a community-building support initiative, the association was organized last 2018 paving the way to fully realize the rice mill project, funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development – Sustainable Livelihood Program (DSWD-SLP) – Payapa at Masaganang Pamayana (PAMANA).

The main source of income for families in their community is farming by planting crops that they can sell in the lowland areas of the province. One of their major products is rice which requires a long process before selling it to the local market and target buyers. It has been a long-time dream of the association

 members to have a rice mill of their own to help increase their production which will benefit not only them but also their fellow citizens.

The enterprise started last August 2019 and has been accommodating all clients from members, non-members, and those that are from neighboring communities. Since the majority of them apply for loans from microfinance institutions or private individuals to finance their farming activities, the association agreed to utilize generated income from its operations by offering loan services to its members. The allowable loan amount is around ₱2,000 – ₱3,000 per member with an interest-bearing of 3% per month, the interest earned then serves as additional income. In this way, the members and their association both benefit from the initiative. Thr

ough their efforts since its operation, the association has already earned around ₱60,000 as their savings from their rice mill production.

The association also actively participates in barangay activities every year especially during the Barangay Fiesta and

 Christmas Celebration and pledges one sack of rice to be served to their community members. This has been their commitment since 2019 up to the present time.

The presence of an additional rice mill did not only increase the community’s resources but also employed operators and provided a source of income to members who work in maintaining the operations and management of the enterprise.

“Hangud gid ang bulig sa amon sang DSWD kay gin tagaan kami sang proyekto nga kaangay sini. Amon gid ginatinguhaan kag ginabuliganan agod nga indi madula kag makabulig pa gid ini sa amon bilang miyembro sang amon asosasyon (DSWD has helped us a lot through the provision of this project. We always work hard and unite so that our project is sustained and continuously help us as members of the association),” says- Association President. (IDHiasa/GMDelaCruz/WOchon)