BAAO, CAMARINES SUR – In the Philippines, traditional culture stereotypes married women as housewives who should manage the household affairs. However, with the increasing gap between price hikes and wage-setting, Gloria Bermas, 50, and Maribel Paz, 41, thought they must defy the norms to gain additional income and support their growing families’ needs. Bermas’ husband is a chainsaw operator earning P350 daily while Paz’s husband is a mason carpenter with a P500 rate per day.

A mother of four, Bermas, decided to work as a canteen crew and domestic helper for P200 per day while Paz, who has three children, engaged in buying and selling fruits from which she earns P1,500 to P2,000 per week.
Thus, as members of the Federation of Baao Women (FBW) Multipurpose Cooperative, they considered the Camarines Sur Coco Sap Sugar Processing an opportunity to gain fixed income, as they earn a daily wage of P200 as coco sap sugar processors.

The Camarines Sur Coco Sap Sugar Processing project worth P7.64 million is one of the subprojects under the enterprise development (I-REAP) component implemented and funded by the Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP).

The 141-square meter coconut sap processing center, which is a component of the said subproject, is now operational. It has employed five coco sap gatherers with a minimum wage of P300 to P350 per 150 liters of coco sap collected.

Eight coco sap processors have also been employed (including Bermas and Paz) with a daily wage of P200. The packaged coco sap sugar carries the label or brand name ASOCAR which stands for Alternative Sweetener of Camarines Sur.

“Proud kami kasi dito sa Rinconada, kami lang ang may Coco Sap Sugar Processing enterprise. Yung produkto nakakatulong sa amin especially sa mga diabetic at senior citizen kasi healthy yung coco sap sugar. Nakakatulong din sa family namin. Dati hirap na hirap kami kasi sya lang ang nag-iincome. Ngayon, ako na ang sumasagot sa pamasahe ng anak namin, nakakatulong na rin ako sa pambayad sa tubig hindi ko na kinukuha sa income ng asawa ko (We are proud here in Rinconada as we have the Coco Sap Sugar Processing enterprise. The coco sap sugar is a healthy product that benefits us as well as those diabetic and senior citizens. The product also helps our family’s day-to-day necessity. Before, it is difficult for us as my husband earns income alone. Now, as I also make salary, I pay for my children’s transportation fare and water bills without getting any from my husband’s pay),” Bermas said.

This was seconded by Paz saying “Pinagpi-pray namin na ma-encourage yung ibang kababaihan sa ibang barangay at munisipyo na mag-member dito para mapi-promote at mai-distribute namin yung produkto namin na makakatulong kasi organic talaga. Sana mag-improve itong proyekto kasi kasama kami sa pag-angat nito (We are praying that more women from other barangays and municipalities be encouraged to be a member of the cooperative so that, together, we can promote and distribute this valuable product which is known for being organic. We hope for this project’s improvement because in the long run, we will also benefit from its success).”

During a recent joint site validation of the Project conducted by PRDP consultants from the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO) and their counterparts from the Project Support Office South Luzon and Bicol, the Camarines Sur Coco Sap Sugar Processing received a fair rating based on functionality, physical accomplishment, organizational status, and social and institutional support.

PRDP is a six-year development project being implemented by the Department of Agriculture to establish an inclusive, market-oriented and climate-resilient agri-fishery sector nationwide. ###(Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-RAFIS V)

Products of the PRDP-funded Camarines Sur Coconut Sap Sugar Processing Enterprise in Baao, Camarines Sur are branded as ASOCAR which stands for Alternative Sweetener of Camarines Sur. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)

Engr. Ireneo Panabang of the PRDP NPCO discusses his findings with counterparts from Regional Project Coordination Office, the Provincial Project Management Implementation Unit (PPMIU), and the proponent group, Federation of Baao Women (FBW) Multipurpose Cooperative. (Photo by Ana Francesca Chavez)