In the mountains of Bukidnon, there is an organization that stands as a testament to female leadership and empowerment. In Barangay Mantibugao, Manolo Fortich, women are not only farmers, but leaders and catalysts for change in a flourishing cooperative, Mantibugao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers Cooperative (MARBFC). Among these empowered women is 69-year-old Evangeline Frasco, who has been serving the organization for 27 years.
As the MARBFC general manager, Frasco recognizes the vital role women play in their agricultural community. “Women here are definitely empowered. We may perform different tasks in farming, but husbands and wives work together to provide for their families,” she said.
Within the cooperative, women have taken on responsibilities in administration, farmer education, and marketing, serving as the backbone for the organization. “Our community has witnessed firsthand the significant contribution of women as leaders in the cooperative. Through our initiatives, we have even been recognized as outstanding corn farmers in the Philippines,” Frasco added.
Knowing the importance of adapting to new farming technologies, Frasco and fellow women leaders have embraced the GrowHer project, organized by the Philippines Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture, with the support of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). The initiative aims to strengthen women farmers’ digital capacities to make their livelihood more sustainable.
“We have been farming for a long time, but we have learned a lot of new things from the GrowHer trainings. We were introduced to high-grade technologies, the use of certified seeds and fertilizers, new applications, soil sampling, and even water conservation. We have also realized that we can impart our learnings not only to the farmers here in Mantibugao but also those from other communities in Manolo Fortich,” she said.
Aside from equipping the women farmers in digital entrepreneurship, PLDT and Smart have also provided them with a technology and connectivity package, which includes a smartphone, SmartBro Pocket WiFi, and Smart Prepaid load cards. “We are lucky to have this opportunity. With technology, we can easily link up with our suppliers for farming inputs and reach outside markets, even those from afar,” shared Frasco.
PLDT and Smart continue to leverage on digital technologies to improve the lives of partner communities. This initiative falls under the PLDT group’s commitment to help the Philippines attain the UN Sustainable Development Goal No. 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
