LIVELIHOOD projects and loan applications for women were some of the priorities of the Integrated Gender and Development Division (IGDD) to help realized the economic empowerment of women in Davao City, a city official said.
IGDD Officer-in-Charge Lorna Mandin said on Thursday, March 2, they are set to revive Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Mag-Negosyo Ta Day project.
This was initially revealed by City Planning and Development Office Head Ivan Cortez.
According to Mandin, this project will be a joint effort of City Social Services Development Office, City Agriculture’s Office, City Veterinary Office, and City Cooperative. The budget for the project was distributed to these agencies.
“These frontline agencies received applications from different women and women organizations. During the women’s summit I encourage women participants to apply for depending on their needs. If they need training, capital, capacity building, loan grants, etc., I tell them to approach their nearest district office or barangay halls,” said Mandin.
The Mag-Negosyo Ta Day program targets around 3,000 women participants or beneficiaries especially those who are marginalized like the lumads, poor women, unemployed, uneducated, and solo parents.
She said the main objective of their project is to provide women with economic opportunities, to earn a livelihood, to work, and to sustain their family.
One of the reasons women are being abused by their husbands is economic dependence, she added.
“If she is not earning her own money, she can be easily controlled and dominated. If she has the capacity, for sure, the woman will really strive for. Sometimes it’s just the capital and skills that are lacking,” Mandin said.
The IGDD officer-in-charge said usually women apply loans through their cooperatives. City Cooperative distributes the fund to different smaller cooperatives in the city wherein the women can avail of the loans.
Mandin, however, said they had revised the rule to allow small family enterprises and individual women to avail of the loan as well, avoiding discrimination and offering fair treatment for everyone in need.
“We have certain qualifiers like barangay certification of residence and zero interest for loan just so they can really pay for it,” Mandin said, adding there will be a team to monitor payments made by loan applicants and grantees.
“There are interventions that the city is doing to liberate women of their stereotype roles. We always thought women should be left at home while the husband works. What if the income of the husband is not enough and the woman has the capacity? She can go out and do a living,” Mandin added.
