Glicerio G. Garcia, Jr., a 48-year-old resident of Barangay Sabnangan, Luba, Abra, is one of the many Abreños who was affected during the July 27, 2022 earthquake.

Having an orthopedic disability doubled his burden of obtaining gainful employment and making ends meet for his family.

Because of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DOLE-DILP) and guidance from the DOLE-Abra Field Office, he was provided with the tools for his bamboo handicraft livelihood project.

Through this grant, Glicerio was given various work tools such as a thin bamboo sheet slicing machine, bamboo strip splitting processing machine, bamboo sizer, and manual bamboo flaker.

He was also provided with a portable blowtorch with a gas blow flame gun, butane auto ignition, several cans of butane, and some bottles of plastic varnish.

Since Glicerio himself had to gather the bamboo sticks from a nearby mountain, these tools are of great help for him to shorten the processing time of making bamboo handcrafted goods.

With Glicerio’s bamboo crafting skills and the additional tools given, he is now able to produce various sizes of bamboo baskets, bamboo handbags, and backpacks.

For him, gaining this government assistance yielded financial foothold towards sustainable income.

 

end//Daryll B. Ponard
LEO III – LIO Designate
photo credit to: DOLE- Abra Field Office