The Test

 

At the onset of the project, it was participated in by eight PWDs all of whom had disability of one leg.  The four units of jack type loom intended for deaf/hearing-impaired and mute were also utilized by them through the tie-up system which necessitates the use of only one leg.  The trainees were given incentive by the NVRC through provision of a P70 daily allowance.

 

During the incubation period, the weavers continuously produced different products such as shawls, place mats, runners, refrigerator and TV covers.  Production went on smoothly with no pressure, both in quantity and timeliness.

 

The “legacy” experience has given hope to NVRC management to market its accumulated inventory to big chain department stores.  Fate was then on NVRC’s side, for ShoeMart placed an initial production order of P86,000 worth of shawls.  Fortunately, 75 percent of the shawls would come from their stock and 25 percent or 110 pieces had to be produced and delivered within 30 days or by December of 2002.

 

The NVRC is mandated to provide rehabilitation through training on various skills and does not cover production aspect of any undertaking once operation starts to take off. In this regard, the management negotiated for the turnover of the production to the Rehabilitation Shelter Workshop (RSW), a sister entity of NVRC located within the compound. RSW is mandated to operate an in-house production center. For continuity of the activity, the skilled weavers were turned over and the needed looms for the production were loaned to RSW.

 

Now came the “test.” Operation had to beat a deadline and a minimum volume of products manufactured.  At this point, the incubation period had been completed and the P70/day allowance was terminated. Weavers were paid on a per rate of P180 per shawl.

 

The center had to establish its credibility. Work continued, a nonstop weaving for eight hours or more. As it progressed, the weavers started to experience physical strains, adding to the fact that all of them had to commute to and from the center. Two got sick and were absent for three days. The rest felt pain in their backs and hips. But work had to go on. They needed a job, an income - the only encouragement that made them pursue the activity. On the average, each weaver produced four to five pieces in five days, which equates to an income of P720 to P900 per week. But one was performing above par in terms of productivity, technique and determination. She is Eliza Abayan, Liza to her friends, a paraplegic woman from Payatas, Quezon City. She could finish eight to ten pieces of shawl in a week or a sure weekly income of P1,440, which was higher than the weekly wage of an ordinary factory worker.

 

Finally, the center was able to complete the order on target.  It was a job well done.

 

In January 2003, NVRC started accepting other interested trainees for a six-month handloom weaving course.  Simultaneously, RSW, through its fund, arranged the fabrication of five units of handlooms and accessories.  The gap made the weavers decide to quit and some enrolled in other courses at NVRC to take advantage of the P70/day allowance.  Determined as she was, Liza opted to wait for a call from the RSW.  Otherwise she paid the office a visit.  Now, she is the sole survivor in the first batch of weaving trainees at RSW.