Empowering Communities Through Skills Development

Verum Terra Geoscience Inc. has successfully completed a six-month Livelihood Skills Training Program that benefited over 200 families from host and neighboring barangays in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. The program, implemented under the company’s Social Development and Management Program (SDMP), was designed to provide residents with practical skills and knowledge to establish sustainable income-generating activities.

Training Modules

The program was structured around three core modules, each tailored to the needs and resources available in the local communities:

• Organic Farming and Vegetable Production: Participants learned modern techniques for growing high-value vegetables using organic methods, including composting, natural pest management, and crop rotation. Each graduate received a starter kit containing seeds, gardening tools, and organic fertilizer.
• Handicraft Production and Marketing: This module focused on developing skills in weaving, basket-making, and producing decorative items using locally sourced materials such as abaca, coconut shells, and bamboo. Participants were also trained in product packaging, pricing, and marketing through social media and local trade fairs.
• Small Business Management: Aspiring entrepreneurs received training in basic accounting, business planning, inventory management, and customer service. The module included guidance on accessing microfinance institutions and government livelihood support programs.

Program Outcomes

The results of the training program have been encouraging. Within three months of completing the program, 65% of graduates reported earning supplementary income from their new skills. Several participants have established small businesses, including a community vegetable cooperative that now supplies produce to local markets and restaurants.

A participant from Barangay Casuguran shared: “Before the training, I relied solely on fishing income, which is seasonal and unpredictable. Now, my family grows vegetables in our backyard and sells the surplus at the market. It has made a real difference in our household budget.”

Sustainability and Expansion

Verum Terra plans to expand the program in 2024 to cover additional barangays and introduce new modules, including food processing, livestock management, and eco-tourism services. The company is also working with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to provide ongoing technical support and market linkages to program graduates.