Zamboanga City – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Zamboanga City Chapter has completed preparations for the implementation of the P38 million Green Livelihood Project in partnership with the Spanish Red Cross and funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
Initially launched in March 2024, the project aims to uplift vulnerable communities, particularly women entrepreneurs, in eight barangays of Zamboanga City: Mampang, Baluno, Mariki, Bolong, Taluksangay, Dita, Panubigan, and La Paz. These barangays, with a combined population of 71,389, face significant poverty levels, particularly among women.
The Green Livelihood Project is designed to promote inclusive and sustainable development, advance women’s rights, and foster a green economy in the Philippines. It incorporates circular economy solutions to bolster sustainable livelihoods, enhance disaster risk reduction and waste management, and empower women to actively participate in decision-making and advocacy.
To ensure the project’s success, a Project Management Committee (PMC) was established, with Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe among its members. The committee is tasked with overseeing the planning, coordination, implementation, and monitoring of project activities.
On Friday, March 7, PRC Zamboanga Chapter officers, led by Chapter Administrator Joseline Fernandez, convened a meeting at the City Hall Conference Room with city and barangay officials, as well as other key stakeholders, to finalize plans and activities for the initiative. Present at the meeting were City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas, Assistant City Administrator for Operations Dolph Saavedra, Executive Assistant Ron Orendain, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Ginagene Vaño Uy, and representatives from various offices and agencies.
The Green Livelihood Project is expected to significantly improve the economic conditions of the targeted communities while championing environmental sustainability and gender empowerment. Stakeholders remain optimistic that the initiative will serve as a model for similar projects in other parts of the country.
