The lack of a dependable baker is a dilemma currently being faced by hacienda bakeries owned by different Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations. No baker means no bread and no bread means no income for the bakery.
To address this concern, brought up during the Livelihood Market and Evaluation Results Forum last May 26, 2021, the Sugar Industry Foundation’s Livelihood Pillar spearheaded a 3-day Bakers’ Training last August 2– 4, 2021 at the SIMAG Training Center. The training was participated by bakers-in-training sent by ARBOs with hacienda bakeries. The training was conducted to reignite the hacienda bakeries as well as to avoid having to stop their operations.
11 bakers-in-training from NABINAY ARC in Cadiz City, MINURO ARC in Victorias City, BDJLAARC in Bago City, Estela ARC in La Carlota City, and ISARFAWA in Pontevedra Town participated in the training graced by trainer Eddie Deanon – a master baker and baking equipment fabricator from Brgy. Estefania, Bacolod City.
(“Ang mga representatives namon sang baker’s training amo na ang gapangamot sa amon bakery subong. Malawig man nag-untat ang operation sang bakery namon bangud nga naghalalin ang bakers. Subong nga taga-amon ang gintrain nga mga baker kag mga bata-un pa, nagaoperate na liwat ang amon bakery kag timing gid nga tig-galing, te damo benta,” Elvira Mondejar, Manager of Estela ARC in La Carlota City, said.)
“Our representatives on the bakers’ training are currently the ones handling the business. Our operation stopped for some time because our former bakers left. Our bakery is operating again now that the bakers are living locally and are young. And since it is currently milling season, our income is huge,” Elvira Mondejar, Manager of Estela ARC in La Carlota City, said.
The 3-day Bakers Training include demo teaching and baking on king-kong bread, ensaymada, ugoy-ugoy, butter cookies, petros, pan de sal, and pam-pam. Eddie Deanon also gave a short orientation on how to do basic costing.
The bakers-in-training and the managers of the hacienda bakeries hope that SIFI Livelihood will conduct another bakers’ training centered on advanced techniques and other types of bread.
Project officer Joseph Bryan A. Sermonia, also turned over a retail store package to the members of Maraymaray Community Managed Savings and Credit Association (MACOMSCA) in Don Carlos, Bukidnon last August 19, 2021.
The initiative aims to help MACOMSCA augment their income through a viable and sound livelihood project. MAMOSCA is composed of sugar workers and small planter workers.
The members hope that this venture will lead to other livelihood opportunities in the future. And that the store could grow and flourish in the coming years.
As per the agreement of the members, the profits of the store will be shared equally to everyone.