Ginhawa Venture, livelihood program in Baguio

BAGUIO CITY -- Baguio Tourism Council Chairperson Chair Gladys Vergara remains steadfast in her commitment to expanding livelihood programs throughout Baguio, reinforcing her vision of establishing livelihood centers in every barangay.

It can be recalled that on January 22, Vergara launched her first-ever Ginhawa Venture (GV) Livelihood Hub, in partnership with TESDA and the Department of Agriculture, located in Barangay Irisan, Baguio City.

According to Vergara, this initiative aims to equip residents with essential skills while providing ongoing support to ensure the growth and sustainability of their livelihood ventures, which is a transformative power towards entrepreneurship.

She said that with the help of TESDA, the Nail Care Training was successfully conducted in Barangay Asin Road, on February 3, to continue empowering communities through sustainable livelihood programs.

On February 6, BTC conducted a Dishwashing Liquid training session with 33 participants on essential skills for household income generation and savings in Barangay Asin Road.

This initiative was made possible with the support of Sangguniang Barangay Member Tita Dinulong, further strengthening efforts to provide livelihood opportunities, particularly for women.

Participants engaged in hands-on learning, gaining practical knowledge on producing cost-effective and quality dishwashing liquid—a skill that can be turned into a small business venture or used for household savings.

As part of the program, participants received business starter kits and were awarded a certificate of completion from TESDA after the training.

This initiative is in line with the 3 Ls of an Organization—Learning, Leading, and Elevating—which ensures that individuals are not only trained in essential skills but are also guided towards self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

Led by TESDA trainer Fe Lucaben in the session BTC, TESDA, and local leaders continue to support more livelihood training programs that are set to follow—which will deliver accessible skills development to every barangay in Baguio.

“The Ginhawa Venture initiative is more than a livelihood program—it is a step towards empowering individuals to take control of their economic futures. I know firsthand how entrepreneurship can change lives, because years ago, I started my journey selling processed meat products while supporting my family as a single mother. Now, I encourage all participants to embrace this opportunity, use these skills to start small businesses, and ease the financial burdens for their families. This program aims to promote self-reliance among women and families in the barangays, moving away from relying on one-time aid or dole-outs,” Gladys explained.