Siargao: In a small village in Siargao, a group of mothers proved that women empowerment can stem from helping and supporting one another through the simplest of deeds, a 'paluwagan' of PHP50 per week, a shared dream that also offers moral support, and some help from the government.
According to Philippines News Agency, starting with about 20 mothers of daycare students in Barangay Bitoon, Del Carmen, on Siargao Island, they have now grown to over 50 members and transformed into a thriving community organization, united with one goal: to build a savings fund to help ease financial hardships faced by families in the community.
Meralyn Tesiorna, the founding member and president of the Women's Association of Brgy. Bitoon (WABB), who was also the daycare teacher, shared, 'Kami-kami lang talaga. Hindi kami lumalapit sa gobyerno noong una. Sabi ko, kahit tag-PHP50 lang, simulan natin (It's just us. We didn't approach the government at first. I said, even if it's just PHP50, let's start).' From the initial seed, the mothers built a savings-and-loan scheme that doubled as a lifeline during crises.
She noted the everyday difficulties faced by her fellow mothers, from budget shortfalls for food and school needs to dealing with illnesses. This led Tesiorna to start the traditional savings scheme to pool money and help one another. 'Meron kaming social fund. Kapag nagkasakit ang anak, pwede makakuha kahit PHP500 para sa gamot. Nakakatulong din yun (We had a sort of a social fund. If a child gets sick, the mother can get a loan of even PHP500 for medicine. That's already a big help),' she added.
Over time, the pooled savings grew, helping families fund home renovations, weddings, children's schooling, and community fiestas. To further aid savings, the group started a community garden on borrowed land, planting vegetables like okra, pumpkin, and bottle gourd. The produce not only provided food security but also extra income. 'Yung kita namin dito, yun na yung panghulog namin sa kada week, yung sobra naibebenta pa namin (The income we earn here was used for our weekly savings, and then we sell the excess),' Tesiorna explained.
The initiative also boosted the women's personal finances and dignity, giving them newfound confidence. As their savings and impact grew, their efforts were recognized by the local government and government offices such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which provided livelihood cash aid of PHP7,700 per member. The Department of Agriculture (DA) also supported them with seeds and technical help.
Now, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is considering including the group in its Project Transform, which aims to build community resilience and environmental sustainability through collaborative, science-informed solutions. 'Nakita namin kung ano ang naging storya ng WABB, so doon namin nakita na may magandang aral na pwedeng maibahagi sa iba ang kanilang sinimulan na grupo (We saw what the WABB story was, so we saw that the group they started had good lessons that could be shared with others),' Maricel Indico, Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) Planning Officer of the DENR Caraga said.
The DENR Caraga is also working to link the WABB with other stakeholders for additional support. Through unity and timely support, these women of Siargao have cultivated empowerment, resilience, and pride, demonstrating that even the smallest seeds can bear the biggest fruit.
