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A Case Study on SM Sunrise Weaving Association in Sitio Sta. Margarita, Ibaan, Batangas
No full textThere have been numerous studies about the weaving industry in the Northern part of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, but few if none in the Southern part of Luzon, specifically in Region IV-A CALABARZON. Ibaan, Batangas is regarded as “Kulambo Capital of the Philippines” and situated in Brgy. Munting Tubig Sitio Sta. Margarita is SM Sunrise Weaving Association. It was established on June 8, 2017 and is the first and only weaving community in CALABARZON. It is also awarded by the Department of Science and Technology as the Regional Handloom Weaving Innovation Center. The association is composed of women weavers in the said sitio which aims to revive the craft of handloom weaving in the town. It is important to study SM Sunrise Weaving Association because their business model can further inspire more emerging weaving communities and besides the economic impact, its study can further enhance its cultural value.
A case study on the business functions of the weaving association was done. The objectives of the study was a) present the macroenvironment and microenvironment of SM Sunrise Weaving Association; b) discuss the profile and business functions of SM Sunrise Weaving Association; c) evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challengers of SM Sunrise Weaving Association, and; d) formulate recommendations for SM Sunrise Weaving Association.
The research design used in the study was a case study method. Internal analysis through SWOT Analysis, Trend Analysis, and Financial Ratio Analysis was used to identify the practices, challenges, financial performance, and opportunities of the association. Meanwhile, external analysis in the form of PESTLE Analysis and Porter’s Five Forces Model was used to determine the factors affecting the association in terms of its customers and stakeholders. Lastly, a Problem Tree Analysis was done to systematically map out the challenges extracted from the internal and external analyses and identify the main issue of the association. The case study made use of three (3) sets of questionnaires and one-on-one interview to sixteen (16) women weavers of the association including the association president and members from the local government of Ibaan and Department of Science and Technology-Batangas.
The sixteen (16) women weavers of the association were the respondents of the study. The mean age of the respondents were 62 years old, with 49 being the youngest and 71 being the oldest. Meanwhile, majority (31.25%) were highschool graduates. In terms of civil status, (62.5%) were married and majority of them (37.5%) have 5-6 children. According to (87.5%) of the respondents, the weaving association was their sole source of income while the minority have other sources like selling goods or having a sari-sari store. Lastly, majority of them (87.5%) have been members of the association since its establishment.
The study also analyzed the business practices of the association. Their production is on a made-to-order basis. According to the majority (38.1%) of the respondents, their production or operation is highly dependent on the availability of inputs, specifically thread. Moreover, the size of their facility was also an issue since this hinders them from acquiring more handlooms which can improve their productivity. In terms of human resource, (33.33%) of the respondents answered that their main motivation for joining the association was for their source of income. However, their daily allowance of Php150 was not sufficient for their daily needs. Another human resource issue is since the association is composed of aged women, there is a need for successors, however there is a lack of identified successors since the youth are not interested in learning the labor-intensive yet underpaid craft. In terms of finance, the main issue was the old-fashioned way of bookkeeping which results to discrepancies in their financial records. The association was also resistant to loans because they fear of losing their profit to debt. Lastly, one of the main issues in marketing is the association’s lack of social media promotion. Their social media accounts were not properly utilized to intensively market their products. Moreover, there is a lack of branding in terms of their designs and patterns since their current patterns are given by DOST-PTRI (Philippine Textile and Research Institute). Although the women weavers are creative enough to formulate their own designs, the lack of handlooms and weavers hinders them from creating more.
Since the association is still at its growth stage, the local government, other related government agencies, and private institutions should work hand in hand with the association to ensure its success and continuity. They must assess and restructure the association\u27s management, capacitate the women weavers with managerial skills, scout for other sources of inputs, absorb competent individuals to accomplish administrative work, establish their own unique branding by seeking technical assistance in design-making, continue to forge partnerships and investments in social enterprises to expand their operations, apply for grants and loans for the improvement of the association\u27s financial performance, increasing the compensation and benefits of the members to reduce turnover and attract more members, training of more youth and adopting weaving courses in the curriculum of elementary to senior-high school students in Ibaan. These must be done to improve the business functions of the association and would consequently, solve the problem of lack of branding and attract more youth and members to continue the craft of handloom weaving in Ibaan
Tila: An Entrepreneurial Venture Report
No full textTila is a partnership brand between Kallista Poleen Visco Gibe and Rommeleen Khryss Evangelista Piamonte that offers dessert products. With products such as Pastillas, Cake in a Cup, and Iced Refreshers, the brand caters everyone. Patillasm as the brand\u27s main product, is available online and thorough different bazaars. Other product offerings are seasonal products that are offered on special occasions and events.
With the tagline, Your Sweets Made Better , Tila prides itself on elevating, reconstructing, and providing customers with a twist to their favorite desserts. Serving \u27nostalgia\u27 as the theme of the brand, it has also become the main inspiration for the brand\u27s name. Tila got its name from an old Tagalog work tila or parang , a term that describes something familiar or seemingly. The products of the brand aim to trigger nostalgic feelings using taste and scent sense in the form of food.
Situated in Laguna, Tila\u27s main market are students, academicians, friends, and family residing in Los Baños, Laguna, and neigboring cities. However, on a larger scale, Tila\u27s market is Millenials and Generation Zs of all genders with no dietary restrictions as most of the products contain dairy and peanuts.
With the brand\u27s constant participation in multiple bazaars and its availability online, Tila\u27s net profit is at Php 9,631.34 as the end of May 2023.
Both partners of Tila have learned a lot about entrepreneurship since the brand has started. The brand has successfully been adapting to its market\u27s demands and suggestions. Sticking to the brand value, Tila will continue to offer healthy and safe products that the community wants. In the sales observed by the management, Tila will still participate in different bazaars and explore more distribution channels to cater to far greater consumers. Moreover, the brand will continue to innovate flavors that will also be available for those with different dietary needs and restrictions. Tila envisions the brand to be known for the nostalgic feeling it gives to the Tila community
Exploratory Assessment of the Sustainability of a Bio-Waste Processing Startup: The Case of Fivedol Upcycling Corporation
No full textThis study addressed the question of whether Fivedol Upcycling Corporation was a sustainable entity. Specifically: 1.) The research provided a comprehensive analysis of the historical background and profile of Fivedol Upcycling Corporation, 1.) Evaluated its business environment, 3.) Evaluated the company\u27s business functions, 3.) Assessed the sustainability practices through the Triple Bottom Line approach, 4.) Analyzed the replication impact of the company through the Sustainable Development Goals Assessment Tool, and 5.) Provided recommendations to further ensure the sustainability of the enterprise. Fivedol Upcycling Corporation was a bio-waste processing startup located in Davao City. The company utilized aerobic digestion of bio-waste through the Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens), an indigenous fly species in the Philippines. The larvae of these flies expedited the decomposition process, reducing the total decomposition time of bio-waste from 20 years to 12 days. The bio-waste was converted into protein, which served as food for the fly larvae. Additionally, the company produced a high-nutrient frass from the digested bio-waste and black soldier fly remains.
To measure the sustainability of the enterprise, a conceptual framework adapted from Capili (2019) and Tas de Mir et al (2018) was utilized. The framework incorporated the Triple Bottom Line concept, considering Economic, Environmental, and Social sustainability. Furthermore, the Sustainable Development Goals Assessment Tool was employed to analyze the replicability impact of the enterprise and identify weaknesses in its sustainability practices. The study also included a mapping of the black soldier fly rearing technology employed by Fivedol Upcycling Corporation, which had been adapted from Indonesian bio-waste processing technology.
This study was prompted by the significant contribution of landfills in the Philippines to environmental degradation. In Davao City alone, over 300 tons of bio-waste were deposited in landfills daily, releasing approximately, 487,500 kilograms of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over a 20 year period. Consequently, there was an urgent need for more sustainable bio-waste processing technologies.
Fivedol Upcycling Corporation was founded by Peter Damary, an agricultural economist and environmentalist with a master\u27s degree in agricultural engineering. The company\u27s main business functions included production, marketing, and sales, while other business functions were outsourced to consultants.
The black soldier fly rearing technology employed by the company consisted of two phases. After the fifth day of the rearing process, 1.5 percent of the total larvae population was separated to ensure the continuity of the black soldier fly population, while the remaining larvae were utilized for feeding on the bio-waste for 12 days. Subsequently, they were harvested and sold as live or dried larvae. The separated sample underwent the complete life cycle of the black soldier fly, encompassing five phases: egg phase, egg deposition phase, egg hatching and larvae feeding phase, pupation phase, and mating phase. This process took a total of 25 days.
The products offered by Fivedol Upcycling Corporation were in high demand, primarily among fish and chicken backyard farmers, as well as exotic pet owners. The enterprise generated an annual net profit of Php 2,350,560.80 from its two main products.
The company actively participated in various programs that promoted environmental sustainability in Davao City. Additionally, it educated community members in partner municipalities on proper waste disposal and segregation practices. With a zero turnover rate and 100% employee satisfaction ratio, Fivedol Upcycling Corporation prioritized local community members, providing employment opportunities and implementing employee compensation and benefits programs.
Moreover, the company demonstrated a negative environmental impact, diverting approximately 37,037.662 kilograms of carbon from the atmosphere, thereby converting it into high-protein feed.
The assessment of the company\u27s replication impact revealed six essential elements that were crucial for strengthening overall sustainability and impact. Fivedol Upcycling Corporation currently lacked direct initiatives addressing zero hunger, quality education, affordable and clean energy, reduced inequality, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Short-wave near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics to detect adulteration of honey with sucrose syrup
No full textNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) coupled with multivariate statistical analysis was assessed as a rapid method of detecting honey adulteration in the Philippines. The sample set contained 288 spectra of authentic and adulterated honey samples obtained from six farms in the provinces of Benguet and La Union. Spectral data were pre-processed using ParLeS software in which partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis was employed. Multivariate analyses like PLSR, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were performed to predict the level of adulteration, reducing sugar content, and apparent sucrose content. Calibration models for predicting adulteration level (from none to highly adulterated) gave the best results using PLSR on spectral data without pretreatment (calibration R2 \u3e 0.93, validation R2 \u3e 0.94). Principal components (PCs) of the spectral data were extracted using PCA wherein the NIR absorbance bands for sugar (836-840 nm and 978-980 nm) and water (938-940 nm, 978-980 nm, 984-986 nm and 992-994 nm) in honey were identified. Using LDA, calibration models were able to classify honey based on level of adulteration and apparent sucrose; overall accuracies of 99.5% and 100% were observed, respectively. When validated, however, the LDA models could not detect pure honey (out of 6 and 11 samples, respectively), while 86.7% and 100% of adulterated honey could be detected, respectively. Further sampling is recommended to strengthen LDA models
Performance evaluation of centrifugal pump-as-turbine for micro hydro applications
No full textThe Philippines is entirely dependent on imported hydropower (HP) system parts, specifically the turbine and generator. The use of a centrifugal pump as a turbine is a good option for the HP system due to its low cost and wide availability in the market. The performance of the centrifugal pump-as-turbine was evaluated under the following conditions: (1) different head setting, (2) different configurations of the draft tube, and (3) a match with an AC generator. A 75x75mm end suction, non-self-priming centrifugal pump was used in this study. The head settings used were 0.28 kg/cm2 to 0.84 kg/cm2 (pressure gauge reading). A prony brake dynamometer was fabricated to measure the torque at the shaft of the pump-as-turbine. The configurations of the draft tube used include: (a) conical angles - 0°, 4°, and 6°, and (b) draft tube lengths – 0.4572 m, 0.9144 m, and 1.3716 m. A 900W AC generator was matched with the pump–as–turbine and tested at different pressure and load settings. Results showed that the centrifugal pump could operate in turbine mode without any mechanical modifications. The highest mechanical efficiency obtained was 83.60% and was attained at a pressure setting of 0.70 kg/cm2. The highest shaft power of 1.02 kW that was attained at 0.84 kg/cm2 pressure setting. Based on the results, in terms of shaft power, the best draft tube configuration has a conical angle of 4° and a length of 1.3716 m. Meanwhile, in terms of efficiency, the best draft tube configuration is 4° conical angle and 0.4572 m length. The generator speed of 4000 rpm was obtained at a pressure setting of 0.84 kg/cm2. On the other hand, a generator speed of 3800 rpm was obtained at a pressure setting of 0.63 kg/cm2. It could be observed that the maximum power (515 W) obtained during the actual run was way below the expected output (847 W). The system efficiencies as well as the electrical power output could improve if the belt slippage is reduced. It is recommended to conduct more testing to be able to determine the full potential of the pump-as-turbine
DIETARY HABITS, LIFESTYLE PRACTICES, AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF WOMEN AGES 18-30 YEARS OLD WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME (PCOS) IN METRO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
No full textPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a major endocrinopathy and considered as a health problem that affects 1 in 10 women and is linked with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and obesity. This study aims to determine the relationship of dietary habits and lifestyle practices to the nutritional status of women with PCOS. A total of 110 PCOS women aged 18 to 30 years were recruited from different Facebook groups and completed the online survey questionnaire. All analysis were conducted using the SPSS version 20 with 95% level of significance. Results revealed that most of the respondents belong to the middle-middle income class and some of them have common PCOS comorbidities such as insulin resistance, CVDs, and diabetes. The computed self-reported height and weight showed that 56% of them have higher BMI (overweight and obese) than the normal range. Results showed that most of them have good dietary habits (63%) since a majority of them have been leaning to an anti-inflammatory diet. Though it was noted that most of them complied with good lifestyle changes (73%), still the majority of them have poor lifestyle practices (54%) since they were physically inactive and practice sedentary behavior. A significant correlation was found between employment status, household income and BMI. The dietary habits have no significant relationship to the BMI (r = -0.177, p = 0.064); however, some of its characteristics have correlation to BMI such as eating midnight snack (r = 0.192, p = 0.044) and size of fast-food drinks purchased (r = 0.246, p = 0.010). Moreover, lifestyle practices have no significant relationship to the BMI (r = -0.082, p = 0.396) but it was also noted that some of its characteristics have correlation to the BMI such as doing recreational activities (moderate intensity) (r = -0.198, p = 0.038), maintaining healthy body weight (r = -0.365, p = 0.000), and reducing sugary beverages (r = -0.195, p = 0.041). Despite being classified under good dietary and lifestyle practices, a high prevalence of overweight and obese were still observed. Therefore, other confounding factors must be considered which may affect the nutritional status of PCOS women since it is a complex endocrine disorder which cannot be regarded as a simple cause-and-effect process due to its relation to obesity
Assessment of local adaptive strategies and role of trees is climate change adaptation in Molawin-Dampalit Sub-Watershed, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines (phase 2): progress report
No full textVariability of Cost and Return of Dry Direct Seeded Lowland Rice in Major Rainfed Growing Areas in the Philippines
Get PDFThis study was conducted to evaluate the variability of net income and return on investment (ROI) as affected by grain yield, cost of production, and gross income across provinces wherein the mechanized dry direct seeding technology was being deployed. The study was conducted during 2019 wet season involving 54 sites from 14 provinces with farmers practicing mechanized dry direct seeding technology under rainfed lowland condition. Grain yield varied (0.72 – 6.73 t ha-1) across provinces and within each province. Total cost of production varied (PhP 23032 – 43421 ha-1) across provinces. Most sites in Cagayan had high cost of production while low in Negros Occidental. Fertilizer cost was the major expense of more than 50% of rice farmers across provinces. Gross income ranged from PhP 32939 ha-1 (South Cotabato) to PhP 73873 ha-1 (Abra). Highest net income was obtained in Sultan Kudarat due to high yields. Net income was less variable in Ilocos Sur while highly variable in South Cotabato. The return on investment (ROI) of different provinces varied (71.61 ± 62.63%). Low ROI and less variability were noted in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union. Across provinces, 60.7% of total variation was explained by variations in grain yield. About 50% of variations in ROI was associated with cost due to land preparation and pesticide application. Fertilizer cost accounted for the high ROI in Abra and Antique. The cost of harvesting significantly affected ROI in Albay, Antique, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and South Cotabato. In general, variability in ROI across provinces were affected by grain yield levels, or the total or the specific items in the cost of production, which is site or province specific. From the information generated, interventions can be formulated based on identified limiting factors specific to site or province
Effect of vegetation cover on surface runoff and soil erosion of Saug Watershed [Davao del Norte and Campostella Valley Province, Philippines]
No full textSoil loss and surface runoff pattern were studied and observed in erosion plots under three different vegetation covers: Napier grass (Pinnesetum purpureum), String Beans (Vigna unguiculata) and control plot over a nine months period. The erosion plots were located at the hilly terrain at 239 meters above sea level. Each erosion plot measures 21m x 9m or 189 m sup 2. The vegetative covers were tested for the effectiveness in controlling soil loss. Under the control plot, the highest runoff value is at 364.14 mm and the erosion rate is at 8.32 tons/hectare/year. In String Beans (Vigna unguiculata), the runoff is at 313.98 mm at the erosion rate is at 5.36 tons/hectare/year while on Napier grass (Pinnesetum pupureum), the runoff is at 281.75 mm and the erosion rate is at 4.39 tons/hectare/year. The different vegetative cover was effective in reducing surface runoff and soil loss/movement