AN ORGANIZATION based in Maguindanao is helping women, particularly housewives, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to manufacture and develop halal-certified products that they can market in other places.
“The Moropreneur is a two-year old social enterprise from the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (Armm). What we do is we help communities build their enterprise. We provide them capacity building and trainings and product marketing. All the products that we have are from the communities,” said the Moropreneur Inc., chair and executive director Selahuddin Yu Hashim.
Ten barangays from Maguindanao, or around 900 women, youth, and PWDs benefit of the livelihood assistance provided by Moropreneur.
Some of the products that they manufacture include Moro delicacies and sweets such as Tipas, chips made from rice flour. Hashim said they even made a twist and created Spicy Tipas, which was incorporated with garlic, other spices, and chili. They also boast of their delicacy called Putli Mandi with the texture similar to that of fried or baked polvoron.
“For now, we have a partnership with Islamic Relief Worldwide Philippines. So we provide the beneficiaries capacity building. Once their enterprise is ready, we’ll also provide them with the capital that they need, and definitely market linkage,” Hashim said.
Aside from the partnership the organization is also collaborating with a multi-stakeholder at the municipal level.
“We are really doing our best so the product wouldn’t remain stagnant. It has to be scaled up. If possible, to be exported to other places,” Hashim said.
He said it is important that their organization help those that are unemployed to be able to aid them with their livelihood and income generating capacities.
Aside from edible products, Hasham said they are looking forward to be able to display woven items such as baskets and salakot hats in the future as the beneficiaries are currently on the training stages for product development.
Their products are available for P100 for 3 packages while others at P75 each box.
For orders, The Moropreneur Inc. can be reached through (064) 552-3295 or themoropreneur@gmail.com