Empowering Members Through Livelihood: Gender Committee Conducts Food Processing Demonstration to Members for Livelihood Enrichment

POVERTY, LACK OF EMPLOYMENT and LACK OF FINANCIAL CAPACITY are just some of the many problems most people suffer every day. But what if they can have their own business? Or create their paths to financial freedom? Life would be at ease.

 Through the efforts of MSU-IIT NMPC’s Gender Committee headed by Judith A. Magnetico PhD. and with the support of the Head Office Marketing department, they have come up with a program which would help our members generate their own income.

A food processing demonstration was conducted to 29 participants that came from our branches in Iligan City. The pack of audience was composed of 8 male and 21 female members who commend the cooperative for giving them opportunity to grow and sustain on their own by creating their small enterprise. This endeavour was opened by our Chief Executive Officer Emma A. Nieva, D.M. who is also a gender sensitive advocate for a long time. Through her inspirational message, she mentioned the importance of having your own enterprise and how to it can help us make more savings. The demonstration was carried out by Prof. Joy Avril Ramayan which has a NC II eligibility on baking and commercial cooking and also a professor at MSU-IIT .The program focused on discussing the dos and don’ts of meat processing. Recipes of Longanisa , Corned beef and Chicken Tocino were shared by the demonstrator. The participants were actively involved in the discussion during the demonstration which shows their interest towards the program. After preparation of the processed meats, everyone was given the chance to give verdict through taste testing.  A major approval from the crowd was seen after the event. During the final hour of the program, an equal voice was given to one male and female participant to give their feedbacks regarding the program. The program resulted very well, as to Mrs. Jima Castillo, “ dako ang matabang ani nga programa sa coop para sa akong pamilya."

Led by our Gender Committee Chairperson Prof. Judith A. Magnetico and together with committee meembers Dr. Ruby Abragan, Mr. Mark Claro, Rizalee N. Tubac-Mesias and Julie T. Quijano, certificates and transporation allowances were gladly given to all participants. Maam Judith says, "Ang coop dili lang para pangpautang. Ania mi diri para matabangan namo among mga miyembro." Being the new chairperson of the Gender Committee, she committed that this is just the beginning of a progressive community through MSU-IIT National Multi-Purpose Cooperative.