SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE
We provide economic assistance through the PATAMABA-WEED Livelihood Programme. (WEED stands for Women Workers' Entrepreneurship and Employment Development.) From 1995 to 2000, 95 chapters/groups benefitted from projects under this programme. Total outlay in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao amounted to nearly five million pesos. Allowances for delayed repayments are made during school-opening periods and for those who are severely affected by the economic crisis as well as by natural or other calamities.
We also help our members set up their own micro-enterprises, or to work cooperatively in groups, in order to be free from having to deal with middlemen and sub-contractors. Training in financial management and the technical aspects of production is given.
We have launched a pilot micro-lending project using the Grameen Bank approach, with the support of ILO-DANIDA, in three areas; i.e. Bulacan, Rizal and Metro Manila.