Technology Transfer, Livelihood Trainings Increase Women’s Participation in the Labor Force in City of Marikina

The Philippines will be losing out economically if it does not acknowledge and enable more women to be productive partners in society.

Data shows that the Philippines’ total population in January 2023 stood at 116.5 million, with 49.2 percent female and 50.8 percent male. Yet the report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that as of December 2023, only about 21.9 million women (56.27%) aged 15 years old and older are active in the labor force compared to male workers who account for 76.97% or 30.2 million.

To mobilize this vast, untapped resource, and true to its mantra of providing solutions and opening opportunities through science, technology, and innovation, the Department of Science and Technology-NCR (DOST-NCR) and the DOST- Philippine

Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) partnered for the project “Providing Philippine Textile Technology-based Livelihood Opportunities for CEST Communities of DOST-NCR.”

Last June 4, 2024, the two agencies turned over a PTRI-developed dyeing technology to the members of the KAbabaihang MAabilidad at Organisado (KAMAO), Inc. at the group’s office at the Civic Center in Barangay Fortune, City of Marikina.

Present at the turnover ceremony were Marikina 2nd District Representative Cong. Stella Luz Quimbo, DOST- PTRI Director Dr. Julius Leano, DOST- NCR Regional Director Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles, Barangay Fortune Chairman Mr. Rafael Teope, KAMAO President Ms. Noemie Salazar, the Barangay Kagawads of Barangay Fortune, and Mr. Oscar Sevilla, Officer-in-Charge of the DOST-NCR PAMAMARISAN (Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, San Juan) CASTO (Clustered Area Science and Technology Office).

To complete the technology transfer, the members of KAMAO underwent a two-day training, from June 4-5, 2024, on textile-based livelihood opportunities using the low-impact synthetic tie-dyeing technology under the tutelage of PTRI experts led by Engr. Eugenia Ablan. Aside from teaching the women the process on how to properly dye shirts, the resource persons also shared marketing tips to the participants, as well as the right product costing for their finished products.

At the end of the training, the women were able to produce various colorful designs and styles of dyed shirts that they can now sell and serve as their additional or alternative income.

A multiplier effect in knowledge transfer is expected as more members of KAMAO make use of the tie-dyeing equipment that came with the project as part of DOST-NCR’s S & T intervention for Barangay Fortune, Marikina under the Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) Program.

By: Pinky Marcelo, SCCU