Livelihood Centers of Villar Foundation Reaches 100

A total of 100 pilot centers have been established in various provinces across the nation in a bid to duplicate the livelihood centers or green social enterprises initiated in Las Pinas City by former Rep. Cynthia Villar.

Villar, who has earned the moniker, “Misis Hanep Buhay,” has successfully provided livelihood to over 500 families in Las Pinas.She noted that livelihood projects in Las Pinas were very successful and sustainable up to now.“So I thought I should share these experiences with other communities all over the country,” said Villar who served as congresswoman for nine years.

In joining the senatorial bandwagon in the May elections, Villar says she would have a better chance of pushing through with her livelihood projects. “I thought this will be my opportunity to expand the reach of my livelihood projects. I want to make a lot of difference in people’s lives,” said Villar.


“Because the Philippines has 1,600 cities, we still have a long way to go,” said Villar who feels that having a job is a solution to most of the problems.With her livelihood projects, Villar wants to provide jobs even to those who failed to finish elementary schooling.



“There should be a balance wherein all will be afforded the opportunity to have a decent job and earn a living,” she said.She noted that under the present condition, employers require that even factory workers should be high school graduates.“So how about those who are not even elementary graduates?” asked Villar who recently established the Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance or SIPAG to serve as center of all her efforts and endeavors in reducing poverty in the country.

Villar’s livelihood programs include waterlily products making, establishment of composting facility and coconet factory, and blanket weaving. She has also started plastic pulverizing in Leyte.

Through the efforts of Villar, training for waterlily products making had been conducted in the cities of Las Pinas, Makati, Quezon, Caloocan, Taguig and  Pasig; Malabon; Taytay; Rizal; Bulihan, Silang and Bacoor, Cavite; Talusig, Ifugao; Sta. Rosa, San Pedro and San Pablo, Laguna; Libon, Albay; Malolos,  Calumpit and Meycauayan, Bulacan; Talavera, Gen. Natividad, Cabiao, Cuyapo, San Jose and Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija; Baras, Rizal;  Basista and Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; Zambales; Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Tuguegarao, Cagayan; Isabela; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Mindoro; Davao City; Agusan del Sur, Cotabato City; North Cotabato; South Cotabato; Lanao del Sur and Lanao del Norte; Sultan Kudarat; Butuan City; and Pendatum, Maguindanao.

Composting was done in Las Pinas City; Brgy. Loyola, Quezon City;  Antipolo City, Rizal; San Manuel, Isabela; San Jose del Monte, Provence and Malolos, Bulacan; Balanga, Bataan; Plantacion, Batangas; Tierra Nevada, Gen. Trias and Bacoor, Cavite;  Antique; Talisay City, Cebu; Oton and Alimodian Iloilo; Gen. Santos City; Davao City and  Antipas, North Cotabato. Coconet weaving factory was established in Balanga, Bataan: Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Dinagat Island; Iligan City and Iligan City. Blanket weaving is now in Pampanga; Caranglan, Nueva Ecija; Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; Libon, Albay and Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.