BOLINAO, Pangasinan – Buri-made products in some villages of Santiago Island in this town have been a source of income for several families amid the pandemic.
Betty Carolino, a 53-year-old mother of three and a buri-product maker in Barangay Salud here, said their craft has been a huge help to her family since last year when the coronavirus started.
“Ang asawa ko po extra-extra lang sa construction pero dahil sa pandemic noong nakaraang taon, natigil siya sa pagtrabaho. Pero malaking-malaking tulong po ang paggawa ng mga bags at banig sa aming pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan (My husband works as a construction worker but not on a regular basis. Due to the pandemic last year, his work was stopped but making bags and mats out of buri has helped a lot with our daily needs),” she said in an interview on Monday.
Carolino said they used to accept pre-orders to sell products to different customers but they made regular income when the owner of Kawayan Nature PH, Precious Cayaon tapped them to make products she would sell through her company.
Kawayan Nature PH is a Philippine-based company supplying and promoting eco-friendly products. Their products are sold through online shopping platforms.
“Kumikita kami PHP15 kada pinakamaliit na product hanggang PHP400 kada pinakamalaking product (We earned from PHP15 per small product up to PHP400 per big product),” Carolino said.
She added her income increased during the pandemic when product demand, including from Maldives and other countries, increased through Kawayan Nature PH.
Buri bag and mat making have been common livelihood for women in their village.