About 400 PWD-members and 75 non-PWDs directly benefited from the Php7.2M earmarked for labor cost. Through their wages, some members were able to acquire land, appliances and nice clothing. Others were able to support the studies of their siblings and/or were able to contribute to their family needs.
One may ask, did the contract reflect a positive impact on members of the cooperative? The answer is a big YES! Even if the amount of profit in the Federation’s income statement/balance sheet is small, every single peso received by each PWD member-worker from the contract is an income not an expense. Besides, the experience boosts the morale, self-esteem and dignity of our members. In contributing to their family’s needs, PWDs became empowered members of their families, communities and society as a whole.
Aside from the economic contribution, the contract has its developmental aspect to the PWDs which should be considered by the government if they want to empower and develop the sector. By buying the products of PWDs, the government is not only reducing street mendicancy among PWDs but also gets quality and durable products that in the long run are cheaper because they last longer.
After completing the contract, we paid all our obligations to our MCs and creditors including almost Php3M in loan interest. Definitely, the interest was very heavy on our shoulders but we needed the loans to deliver and complete the contract.