ILOILO City – A long black nito vine is just a plant in the wild but it is much valued by the beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-assisted Nito Weaving Project in Barangay Napatag, Tangalan, Aklan.
Through the P825,000-livelihood project, 16 parents of child laborers are now weaving the nito vine to augment their income and to support their children’s needs.
The weaving project is an intervention to child labor incidence observed during the profiling conducted by DOLE Region 6 through its Aklan Field Office in 2019 and 2021.
The incidence of child labor prompted the regional office to initiate a massive information drive on child’s rights and to create interventions.
Parent s-beneficiaries were provided with raw materials (nito vines), tools and jig like small knife, nipper, tape measure and masking tapes.
Aside from the parents of child laborers, 17 others from marginalized sectors (farmers, senior citizens, persons with disability) and nito weavers also availed themselves of the program.
In all, 33 beneficiaries are now weaving for better economic condition.
DOLE-6 director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr. said the project will provide sustainable income to the families.
“Sayang naman ang skills nila pag hindi nagamit. They are seasoned and skilled weavers. With DOLE’s support, their expertise guarantees the sustainability of the project and additional income to their families,” said Rodriguez.
The Nito Weaving Project also helps boost the identity of Barangay Napatag, Tangalan and the province of Aklan in producing native products.
Barangay Napatag is one of the 15 barangays in Tangalan that produce nito handicrafts along with other Aklan hand-woven products made from locally-grown fibers such as abaca and pineapple leaf.
Rodriguez observed that the trays and plates of various shapes, fruit bowl and, chip and dip made of nito are hot souvenir items for local and foreign tourists.
“They have potential buyers,” said DOLE Aklan Field Office Head Joselito de la Banda, confirming the marketability of the products. “Aside from small time markets and pasalubong centers, they are the long-time producers of export quality nito products of the largest handicrafts buyer and exporter in the province.”/PN
