Matigsalug group undergoes values formation and team building

The activity, conducted in cooperation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)  XI and the Matigsalug Council of Elders Marilog District Davao City, Inc. (MACOEMADDACI), was part of the crafts livelihood project of AboitizPower for the indigenous peoples. It aims to capacitate the Matigsalug tribe members into developing quality, culturally inspired clothing, baskets, and fashion accessories that can be sold commercially.

During the activity, participants discussed the values necessary in forming a cohesive team. This was done through fun-filled discussions and games. Members of the Davao Designers Pool were also in attendance to train the participants on product development and quality control.The activity endeavors to instill values of teamwork and good work ethic in the Matigsalug trainees, as AboitizPower and DTI believe that starting the crafts program with a right mindset is key to a successful livelihood intervention for the Matigsalugs.

AboitizPower and DTI also shared that they were eager to be partners with the Matigsalug crafters to help them make their culture known to a wider audience through creating export quality crafts.

“We envision the Matigsalug crafts to be world class and eventually be well-known not only locally but internationally, as well. This activity is only the first step towards the formation of a viable economic enterprise in uplifting the lives of our Matigsalug community,” TSI Manager for Reputation and Stakeholder Management Jason Magnaye said.

“We thank you for taking the time to be here in our Values Formation and Team Building. It is our privilege to help uplift the cultural heritage of the Matigsalug tribe. We thank TSI for linking us with you. If not for them, we would have missed seeing the potential in your tribe,” DTI-XI Assistant Regional Director Edwin O. Banquerigo said.

MACOEMADDACI is AboitizPower’s partner in its ongoing implementation of the Carbon Sink Management Program (CSMP), which aims to plant one million trees as a means of offsetting the carbon emission of the 300-megawatt Davao Baseload Power Plant located in Binugao, Toril, Davao City. The crafts livelihood project supports the CSMP by creating additional income sources for the CSMP partner communities.