COTABATO CITY—Thirty women employed at an agriculture company in Wao, Lanao del Sur, have undergone floral bouquet production training, which equips them with additional skills to earn extra income.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Bureau of Employment Promotion and Welfare under the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MoLE) – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), aims to enhance the livelihood opportunities of workers in the region.
According to Bai Sara Jane Sinsuat, bureau director, the training aligns with MoLE-BARMM’s commitment to boosting workers’ financial stability by providing them with alternative income sources.
“We are keen on providing workers in BARMM with livelihood skills that can generate additional income for them,” Sinsuat told reporters.
The MoLE-BARMM Lanao del Sur office, with support from MoLE Minister Muslimin Sema, facilitated the training for the 30 employees of Dole-Wao Development Corporation, a major agricultural firm operating pineapple and banana plantations across several Mindanao provinces.
Supporting Economic Growth for Workers in BARMM
Beyond the floral bouquet training, MoLE-BARMM is implementing broader interventions to enhance the productivity of workers, particularly former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who are now employed in business establishments, construction firms, and the transport sector.
Meanwhile, the 30 women trained in floral bouquet production plan to form a cooperative to strengthen their marketing capabilities and expand their reach in the floral industry.
This initiative underscores BARMM’s commitment to economic empowerment, ensuring workers have the skills and resources to build sustainable livelihoods.