STORIES that give us a peek into the innate good nature of Dabawenyos have become our source of inspiration at Davao City continues to struggle with the uncertainties and anxieties caused by the Covd-19 pandemic.
The Philippine Women’s College of Davao joins the rank from where inspiring stories are emanating.
As its immediate response to the dire need for protective gears, PWC’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Fashion Design students, selected faculty from Basic Education to Tertiary Education, and non-teaching personnel volunteered to sew PPE suits and masks for free in collaboration with various local organizations.
PWC is not just looking at the stop-gap measures that needed immediate attention. It also cranked up its community development program as it focused on ensuring that there is an inclusive and sustainable supply chain in the production of protective gears for medical and security frontliners while providing livelihood opportunities for its staff and students.
PWC of Davao partnered with Davao Fashion and Design Council (DFDC), World Fair Trade Organization Asia (WFTO) and Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) to organize a Fair Trade-accredited community based manufacturing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), masks, foot cover and face shields.
“DFDC, a fair trade-recognized organization, is providing network support and mentoring assistance for product design and development to fashion design students and faculty actively engaged in the production activities,” said Emi Alexander L. Englis, who heads the Center for Innovation and Social Ventures and the Program Chair of Fashion Design and Industrial Design Programs of the PWC’s Helena Z. Benitez School of Fine Arts and Design.
The program will be engaging PWC’s OJT students from Tourism, Information Technology, Fine Arts and Interior Design, Teacher Education, Food Technology, Business Administration and Entrepreneurship to do online tutorials, training sessions and coordination activities mostly with WFTO.
Aside from this, PWC is also organizing fair-trade enterprise that would provide additional income for its stay-at-home employees and evening college students. It is just waiting for the clearance from the City Government to start this emergency livelihood opportunity.
“The PWC community has a moral obligation to contribute in this massive effort to support our frontlines and ensure that our stakeholders are ready to participate in the new normal after this medical emergency. We must ensure that our faculty, staff, students, alumni and industry partners work hand-in-hand to do our part to alleviate the effects of the Covid-19,” said Prof. Vicente Pijano III, Vice-President for Academics, Administration and Institutional Development of PWC.