"Like any lender, a bank wanted collateral. And that’s what we didn’t have. Those willing to lend charged high interest rates and the entrepreneur ended up working for the bank (to pay his loan), instead of for himself," said ANP president Doreen Alicia Pena.
Today, ANP has a credit lending program for members, initially funded through a P5-million credit line from the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center. Loan amounts range from P20,000 to P150,000.
With easier access to credit, the major problem currently facing ANP members is product packaging, especially for food. "We have to find ways to keep fresh longer the native food delicacies that we sell. Look at those Japanese-made prawn crackers that are too salty for our taste. They can command a high price despite the taste. That’s because of the packaging. The food stays crisp," said Pena.
To help members solve this problem, ANP has organized Designers Guild Philippines Negros Island. The organization aims to harness indigenous materials and resources in the development of world -class, environment-friendly products as well as to catalyze and guard product design and integrity.
"The Philippines is the forerunner in using indigenous materials for regular household items. But other countries like Thailand, China and Vietnam have caught on. We need to find better packaging for our food products, be more creative with our designs, give our customers a lot of value added so we can compete," said Christina Marie Gaston, Designers Guild president and ANP vice-president for external affairs.
The foundation uses volunteer trainers in teaching courses such as livelihood skills, marketing, product design, bookkeeping and general management to both ANP members and non-members. For example, the foundation has worked with the United Nations Development Programme in a livelihood reintegration program for overseas Filipino workers.
"We continue to be guided by our vision to provide employment opportunities to the displaced sugar workers," said Pena.
The monocrop economy of Negros Occidental was hit hard in the 1980s when the United States, the country’s biggest customer, abolished the sugar quota. With the ensuing collapse of global sugar prices, 150,000 workers, many of them in Negros, found themselves without jobs.
Today, ANP members employ over 14,000 individuals. Aside from its showroom in Bacolod City, where the products of its members are sold, ANP also participates in local and international trade fairs. This Oct. 2-6, ANP will hold its annual trade show called "Art & Soul at the SM Megatrade Hall.