DIPOLOG CITY – The DOLE Zamboanga del Norte Field Office (DOLE-ZDNFO) conducted a Capacity Development Training for 6 associations enrolled in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework in Dapitan City on July 3-4, 2023. The training was held at the Livelihood Training Center in Brgy. San Pedro, Dapitan City while a benchmarking activity was held at Cassava Growers and Processors Association (CAGAPA) cassava plantation in Brgy. Barcelona.

Dapitan City PESO Manager Nonito A. Malacat welcomed everyone on behalf of Dapitan City Mayor Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos. In his message, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to host the activity and hoped that it will help the association to gain important insights to the participants.

Aileen B. Mondejar, Head of DOLE-ZDNFO, in her overview and rationale, discussed the importance to enhance the capacity of the participants to identify challenges that affect their livelihood projects and to explore strategies and opportunities to address and sustain them.

On the other hand, Muneer B. Hinay, the co-founder of Kids Who Farm, shared his personal experience and learnings as a practitioner in the field through his session on Entrepreneurial Competencies, Business Model Canvass, and Value Chain Analysis. Other Resource Speakers include John Edgar A. Macapas from DTI who discussed Product Development, Branding, Social Media Marketing, and Content Creation while Joni Sarina R. Mejico of ZDNFO discussed Productivity and Basic safety and Health in the Workplace.

Zamoras shared her insights on the sessions telling, “Importante na makita namo ang katibuk-an sa among value chain map para dili lang mi malimitahan sa among produkto sa karun.” (By looking at our value chain map, we can add value to our current product and in effect compete with the current market and add more income to the association.) Zamoras also expressed her gratitude to DOLE for conducting such activity to the SLF beneficiaries for helping attain sustainable livelihood opportunities for them.

Chief Mondejar, in her closing message, thanked the participants, partners, and DOLE staff who have been instrumental in the overall success of the activity, and that the learnings they have gained will be put into good use and will be shared to their community. END/with reports from JSRMejico, ZDNFO