In Iloilo City, discarded hotel linens are being transformed into marketable tote bags, functional products, and new opportunities for women determined to rise above economic challenges.
Through the Women of Iloilo City for Sustainable Endeavors (WISE) Project on Sewing, the Iloilo City Government is empowering women and vulnerable sectors by equipping them with practical livelihood skills while advancing sustainability and circular economy initiatives.
Anchored on the Reinforcing Ilonggos through Skills Empowerment (RISE) Ilonggo Program and implemented by the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office, the WISE Project aims to provide long-term livelihood opportunities to 60 women beneficiaries from selected homeowners’ associations in Lanit, Jaro and San Juan, Molo.
“Siempre daku gid akon kalipay kay paagi sa WISE gintagaan kami sang opportunity nga kon wala kami trabaho maka-income gid kami paagi sa pagpanahi namon sa amon adlaw adlaw nga pangabuhi,” shared Esdel Escubio, a WISE beneficiary from San Juan, Molo. She shared that their group has already completed hundreds of bag orders, a milestone that demonstrated the quality and market readiness of their products.
Felmar Sianson, president of the San 1 Molo Federation Inc., said the project has greatly helped beneficiaries augment their family income through sewing opportunities and equipment support from the city government.
For Agnes Hugo, another beneficiary and president of Iloilo River Plains (IRPS) Village 6 HOA, the program has provided additional income for their daily needs and opened new opportunities for women in their community.
Recently, their association was commissioned to produce the tote bags for the participant kits of the Iloilo City Youth Summit.
The initiative is implemented in partnership with Angat Buhay and the United Nations Development Programme, with funding support from the European Union under Project SALOG (Strengthening Adaptive Livelihoods and Organizing Grassroots Circular Enterprises). It is also carried out in collaboration with the Iloilo City Local Housing Office, which initiated the creation of various homeowners’ associations (HOAs) in Iloilo City and funded the training programs for WISE beneficiaries.
In March, Angat Pinas Inc. and UNDP turned over 24 sewing machines and starter kits to participating homeowners’ associations in Jaro and Molo.
For Iloilo City Mayor Raisa S. Treñas, the project represents more than a livelihood intervention.
“Sustainable livelihood programs like WISE are long-term solutions that equip Ilonggos with skills and knowledge they can use every day as a source of income. We’re happy that our beneficiaries are now reaping the fruits of their labor,” the mayor said.
She also underscored the city government’s commitment to sustainability and zero-waste initiatives, noting Iloilo City’s inclusion among the United Nations’ Top 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste.
The WISE Project promotes circular economy principles by transforming recyclable and discarded textiles into innovative, eco-friendly, and commercially viable products. Initial outputs include upcycled tote bags and token bags that demonstrate how sustainability and creativity can generate meaningful economic opportunities. Two designers participating in the project are the rising homegrown brand Modern Ilongga and renowned Ilonggo designer PJ Arañador.
According to Angat Pinas Executive Director Raffy Magno, the organization expanded its support after seeing the strong commitment of the Iloilo City Government to the project.
“Lahat po ito ay simple dahil meron kayong napakaayos na gobyerno,” Magno said during the turnover ceremony.
“We are very happy to support the vision of the Iloilo City Government. Our assurance is that we will always be here—we will journey with your nanays to ensure that this project becomes sustainable and continues to grow,” he added.
As the women behind WISE continue turning discarded materials into products and opportunities, the initiative stands as proof that empowering communities through skills, sustainability, and entrepreneurship can create lasting change — one stitch at a time.
