The Canadian government vowed to support a group of weavers in Miagao by opening an export market for their “hablon” or handwoven textile following the visit of Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Bruce Hartman and Senior Trade Commissioner Guy Boileau on Thursday.

“Canadian experts were very proud to coach, mentor, and provide that guidance that you need here to grow your enterprise, to producing world-class products; the garments are really of remarkable quality,” said Hartman as he addressed the women weavers of the Indag-an Multipurpose Cooperative in Barangay Indag-an.

The 20 weavers of the cooperative could produce 2,240 shawls in a month.

They also produced handkerchiefs, table runners, and hablon cloth, among others.

Hatman said they will work closely with the Philippine Ambassador to Canada to find a market for their products.

“I’m very excited to see some of you weaving. I think it’s very important for me to hear directly from you about the type of support that you’re receiving, the type of support you would like to receive,” he said.

The Indag-an MPC is one of the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Catalyste+ under the Accelerating Women Empowerment (AWE) program launched in 2020.

Catalyste+ is a Canadian economic development organization with the mission of helping build better lives by strengthening local facilities.

Through AWE, Catalyste+ aims to achieve improved economic and social well-being of the poorest, most marginalized, and vulnerable people, particularly women and girls, in developing countries, to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, according to the DTI in a statement.

DTI Iloilo Director Ma. Dinda Tamayo, in her message, said they extend parallel programs to support the weavers, the latest of which is their inclusion in the Regional Inclusive Innovation Center that focuses on weaving.

“DTI 6, especially the Iloilo provincial office, is humbled by the presence of our guests, but equally proud for LGU Miagao that in this historic town, one cooperative was able to live out to the challenge of nourishing Canadian assistance and make an impact to their business operationalizing benefitting their members,” she said in her message.

Tamayo said the weavers also stand as a model of women groups contributing to the “upliftment of the social being of women and the marginalized.”

The visit ended with a demonstration of handloom weaving, with guests trying their hand at the handloom and the presentation of Indag-an MPC products. (PNA)