Designer helps in livelihood project

CEBU, Philippines - Noted fashion designer Rajo Laurel was in Cebu yesterday to lend a hand in building the skills of homeowners in producing bags, handicrafts and accessories out of raw materials. 

Laurel was accompanied by Resse Fernandez Ruiz, President of “Rags 2 Riches,” a product development and community empowerment center based in Manila. Ruiz said they came to Cebu upon the invitation of Betsy Quisumbing, mother of 6th District Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing, to help in the congressman’s livelihood program, the “Asenso Sixto Livelihood Project.” 

The Rags 2 Riches foundation itself is helping alleviate the lives of women in Payatas by helping them make saleable rags and stylish fashion accessories, something that Quisumbing wants to replicate in the 6th District.

In the program here, recipients are allowed to take the raw materials home so that they can continue watching over their small children. “They came here to get the raw materials and work it at home to make sure that they could also watch over their small children,” Quisumbing said.

Betsy said it is the objective of the program to come up with new products every year. They aim to come up with products that are of export quality and this is reportedly where Laurel comes in with his creative ideas.

Recipients in the program who are mostly housewives get free transportation allowance and are being paid for their labor. They also get training kits, materials and even snacks, including to other members of their families who wish to learn the craft.

“Asenso” coordinator Dimples de Guzman said the program started in 1999 and benefits 61 barangays in Mandaue City, Consolacion and Cordova towns.

Among the raw materials used in the project scraps and waste materials that can be found everywhere.  (FREEMAN)