Davao Light and Power Company

It’s graduation season at the Gawad Kalinga community in Los Amigos, Tugbok District, Davao City as 26 members of the Samahan ng may iba't-ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw (SAKADAB) Consumer Cooperative received their national certification (NCII) in dressmaking this March, after completing the training and passing the assessment conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Region XI.

After a 35-day training which started in December 2022, the SAKADAB members skilled up in dressmaking to further add to their sustainable income-generating projects, aside from baking bread and pastries and selling goods.

“I don’t have any experience in sewing because I was more exposed to office work, but still I took the challenge. This opportunity opens many doors for us to provide sustainable income for SAKADAB and everyone who participated in this livelihood training. I plan to make my own version of the bag using rags but I will still study further to share with my group,” Marisol Labasano, the President of SAKADAB said in her speech.

The training was launched after a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Cooperative Capacity Building Project was signed by SAKADAB Consumer Cooperative, Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., and Aboitiz Foundation Inc. last October 2022.

Historically, Davao Light, an AboitizPower subsidiary, and Aboitiz Foundation have been supporting SAKADAB back when Aboitiz employees helped them build their houses in Gawad Kalinga. Since 2012, the cooperative has been a recipient of various volunteer activities and projects to build the capacity of its differently-abled members. The utility company and its foundation also provided support to SAKADAB's business when they were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic where the latter received baking materials as well as sewing supplies for their bakeshop and dressmaking businesses, respectively.

“Your success in your respective business ventures will further inspire us to help more cooperatives nationwide. It reminds us to strive harder to improve our enterprise development program,” Maribeth Marasigan, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Aboitiz Foundation said in her speech during the graduation ceremony.

SAKADAB also received P300,000 worth of a sewing business package to improve their dressmaking business. This includes four (4) sewing machines, tools, and materials. Aside from dressmaking, the graduates will soon undergo packaging and branding training.

"We believe that with the training and business package that you have received, you can take on another good business and we are grateful that you have put value in your skills as you use them to prosper and bring more success to your business," Orville Lazaro, Davao Light AVP for Engineering said in his message to the graduates.

Davao Light aims to add value to the community it serves by providing keys to bringing about improved lives and well-being.