As part of the Women’s Month Celebration, the Valenzuela City Gender and Development (GAD) Council brought together more than 100 single mothers from the city’s 33 barangays to set their ladles and aprons on for a whole day livelihood training on cooking.

The City Health Department gave an initial seminar on proper handling of foods. “It is important that we assure cleanliness and freshness of food since it is one of the direct sources of bacteria and virus leading to infectious diseases,” said Jameston Bostre, Health Education and Promotion Officer on Sanitation Practices.

The eager participants watched Chef Eugene Raymundo, food stylist from Ajinomoto and Lee Kum Kee, as he demonstrated how to prepare siomai, siopao, leche plan, and embutido (steamed grained meat).

Special Projects Office (SPO) Head Ms. Dorothy Evangelista partook in the event as hands-on assistant to Chef Eugene. “The main purpose of this activity is to educate the women, particularly the single moms, on an alternative sources of income to raise their children,” she uttered.

1^st District Councilor Cora Cortez, City Council Head of Women and Children Committee, congratulated the mothers who attended because of their will to be trained for a source of an extra income and additional skills.  “Umaasa ako na makatulong itong livelihood training sa inyong mga pamilya at sa inyong mga barangay”.,” she added.

The livelihood program was also part of Mayor WIN Gatchalian’s support in reducing unemployment in the city.  “Teaching the people to have their own source of income will produce lasting effect rather than providing them just a one day meal. In this way, they will elevate their lifestyle and provide for their family and help their community as well,” he said.

The livelihood seminar is also sponsored by Clorox International Philippines, Inc., maker of Glad Kitchen Products.

SPO, in partnership with Alay Buhay Partylist Representative WES Gatchalian provided the mothers with a livelihood kit consists of a steamer, mini stove, cooking pan, apron, ladle and tongs that they can use in starting up a small business of their own.

Globally observed during month of March, Women’s Month is celebrated this year in the whole country with the theme “Women Weathering Climate Change: Governance and Accountability, Everyone’s Responsibility.”