NEWSFLASH

Manila, July 27, 2000 - Enterprising folk living in communities around tourism destinations are making an industry out of producing hand-made souvenirs, giving rise to many symbiotic relationships that gradually transform these communities into models of sustainable development.

In Ifugao province, 31 participants from the municipalities of Banaue, Mayoyao and Hungduan have formed Heritage Handmade Paper Inc. They decided on handmade paper making since this could help preserve the Ifugao Rice Terraces by using rice stalks and other indigenous materials from terrace farming.

Majority of their products are two types of note cards decorated with fossilized leaves and woven Ifugao cloth. This product line is shipped to a client based in Belgium, which discovered the novelty products during an exhibit held in 1999.

In Boracay Island, 28 villagers, including Aetas, have organized a cooperative called Boracay Handmade Paper Cooperative. They are now producing various novelty items for the members of Boracay Foundation Inc., who own and operate resorts on the island.

Heritage Handmade Paper Producers Inc. and Boracay Handmade Paper Cooperative have two things in common, aside from producing hand-made souvenirs. Both are based in anchor tourism destinations and beneficiaries of the Department of Tourism's (DOT) Entrepreneurial Development in Rural Tourism (EDRT) program.

Through EDRT, the DOT coordinates with local government units and non-government organizations in strengthening the souvenir industry in high-traffic tourist destinations. Pilot areas for the project are Banaue in Ifugao province, Boracay Island, Puerto Princesa City, and Talisay town in Batangas.

"Our EDRT program is really a high-value undertaking because we have seen the local souvenir enterprises flourish from fledgling backyard affairs to organized projects. We give seed money to communities that want to start small and medium enterprises in souvenir making. They also undergo training on how to make the business work for the community. In this way, local folk develop a heightened sense of cooperativism and cultural preservation," said Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta.

Under EDRT, participants undergo a four-phase training program. Phase 1 Involves the conduct of an actual training on craft development and specialization to be interspersed with lectures on marketing, business plan preparation, cooperativism, pricing and costing and other significant topics on entrepreneurship.

After this training, on evaluation of the quality and design of products is made, with participants taking an advance course in designing and packaging.

Phase III of the training module is the conduct of a Business Expenses and Savings Training (BEST) Game. This is a reality-based business game in which participants have an opportunity to experience how businesses operate in real life. The BEST Game also gives them an opportunity to experience the effects of their business decisions in a simulated business environment.

The final phase is the product launching. According to the DOT, prior to undertaking the training module, a survey is conducted in the target area to determine the most appropriate product to be developed based on the available raw materials and potential markets. The survey also identifies the legitimate targeted participants and determines their level of interest and learning.

In Talisay, Batangas, one of the four EDRT pilot areas, a one village-one product concept is being piloted. The local residents chose bonsai and dish-garden making as the crafts to be developed due to the availability of materials in their municipalities. Under the EDRT project, 23 beneficiaries have formed Palamuting Buhay Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

In Puerto Princesa, the latest EDRT pilot area to be tapped, beneficiaries come from the three barangays of Marufinas, Cabayugan and Tagabinet.

Weaving available raw materials in the area such as yantok, pandan, buri and buho, the villagers produce souvenir items like bats, baskets, wallets, placemats, cigarette cases and key chains. The main markets for the novelty items are visitors of the Puerto Princesa Subterranean Underground River National Park and tourism establishments in the area.

Sec. Araneta has requested the Economic Mobilization Group to include the DOT's EDRT program in the Department of Trade and Industry's Developing Rural Industries and Village Enterprises (DRIVE) project. With this tie-up DRIVE can find a "big-sister" company for the EDRT beneficiaries and provide them technological assistance.