Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo–In a significant step towards fostering economic resilience, equality, and safe spaces, Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) has launched the TERESSA (Training on Economic Resiliency, Equality, and Safe Spaces Action) project. This event, coinciding with the International Women’s Month celebration, marks the beginning of a collaborative endeavor aimed at empowering women in the community. The event took place on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Social Hall of the Municipal Building in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

 

The ISUFST-initiated project is a product of a multi-institution partnership among the Barotac Nuevo Local Government Unit, Barotac Nuevo Municipal Police Station, JCI Barotac Nuevo Tamasak, and ISUFST. It seeks to create a lasting impact and facilitate long-term transformation within the community, with a special focus on enabling women to realize their potential and actively participate in the decision-making process.

 

The launching event was graced by key figures in the community, including Estelita Sumayo, MSWD Officer of LGU Barotac Nuevo, who delivered the welcome message, and Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., President of ISUFST, who also shared his messages of support and commitment to the project. Vice Mayor Hernan G. Biron Jr., together with TERESSA beneficiaries, participants, and volunteers, were also in attendance.

 

Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr. emphasized the importance of the TERESSA project in the context of supporting the local economy and community of Barotac Nuevo. He stated, “TERESSA represents not just a commitment to women’s empowerment but also a strategic investment in our community’s future. By fostering an environment where women are equipped to lead, innovate, and grow, we are laying the foundation for a more resilient and equitable society. The ISUFST is dedicated to supporting this endeavor in every way possible, ensuring that the contributions of women are recognized and valued at every level of community development.”

 

Town’s Matriarch Diana Biron also conveyed her support for the project, urging women to take advantage of the opportunities it offers for livelihood and skills capacitation. PLT Cedrick Cruz, Officer-in-charge and Chief of Police of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, participated in the event as well, highlighting the project’s significance in creating safer spaces for women.

 

Dr. Jeanette Bayona, Director of the Office of Extension Services and Community Development at ISUFST, provided a glimpse into Project TERESSA, while the unveiling of “Tyangge ni Teray,” a market space for women entrepreneurs, marked a key highlight of the launch. The event featured talks on marketing for Tyangge ni Teray by Hon. Gilmare Joyce Lingga, President of JCI Barotac Nuevo Tamasak, and on women entrepreneurship and financial literacy by Atty. Johanna Marie Belgira, Municipal Legal Officer of LGU Barotac Nuevo.

 

Barotac Nuevo SK President Hon. Rica Pama delivered the closing message, encapsulating the spirit of collaboration and empowerment that TERESSA embodies. Dr. Bayona, reflecting on the project’s inception, remarked, “Behind the success of a woman is lots of women,” stressing the importance of women’s collaboration and solidarity. She highlighted how TERESSA drew inspiration from the Ilongga heroine Teresa Magbanua, embodying the spirit of resilience and empowerment that the project aims to instill in the women of Barotac Nuevo.

 

As the TERESSA project sets into motion, it promises to usher in a new era of empowerment, economic resilience, and safety for the women of Barotac Nuevo, aligning with the global observance of International Women’s Month and contributing to the broader goals of gender equality and community development.