Reelected Senator Cynthia Villar has tapped the help of a group of women in Dasmariñas, Cavite to make bags out of the tarpaulins used during her campaign in the recent midterm elections.
Villar, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said this recycling project benefits a small tailoring business, which employs mothers as seamstresses.
“We are very glad that we have now a way for the proper disposal of these used tarpaulins. Through this initiative, we were not only able to recycle used tarpaulins into something useful, we were also able to help women earn additional income for their families, ” the seasoned legislator said.
“We have now a way for the proper disposal of used tarpaulins.”
Christine Joy Ferrer, 27 years old, just started MXD Tailoring two months ago in the garage of the apartment she is renting. For five years, she worked for her older sister’s tailoring shop until it closed down. She then borrowed the sewing machines and started her own business.
“Tuwang tuwa po ako kasi nagsisimula pa lang ako tapos nagtiwala na po sa akin si Senator Villar na gumawa ng bags niya. Malaking tulong po ito sa akin at sa mga sewers ko,” Ferrer said.
The 2 x 3 feet tarpaulins collected by the staff of the veteran lawmaker were delivered to Ferrer’s shop to be made into bags for P16 a piece. On the first week, they were able to finish 550 bags. They will be making more as tarpaulins collected from the provinces start to arrive.
Ferrer said her 4 sewers are mothers who live near her shop. One of her sewers has to look after her baby. Ferrer loaned her one of her machines so she could work from home.
Ferrer said she thanks Villar for providing a source of additional income for mothers like her. She said she was able to look after her kids aged 10 and 7, while operating her small business.
The finished bag measures 12 x 18 x 4 inches, it is white with the printed side of the tarpaulin made as the inside of the bag. Tarpaulin bags are the more durable and environment-friendly substitutes for plastic bags. Villar said she will distribute the bags for free to further promote her advocacy for plastic recycling.
“I will distribute the bags for free.”
She also initiated a plastic recycling project which turns plastic wastes into school chairs. Through a plastic factory Villar built in Las Piñas, 20 kilos of soft plastics such as food wrappers were recycled into a plastic chair with changeable parts and has a life span of 20 years. These chairs were donated to different public schools all over the country.