The Negros Occidental Productivity Center was inaugurated yesterday with Gov. Joseph Marañon, leading the blessing and inauguration rites.

The project is part of thrust of the Technology Livelihood and Development Center to strengthen the delivery of technology transfer and livelihood trainings to community-based entrepreneurs in the province.

Marañon said the operation of the Productivity Center marks another milestone towards the fulfillment of the trade and investment promotions agenda of his administration.

The Center, located in Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City, has nine high-speed sewing machines for garments, eight of which were purchased for a total of P200,000, and two specialized machines for bags and shoes production worth P60,000 each.

These equipment are primarily leased to exporters from the Garment Manufacturers of Negros Occidental who sub-contract their production requirements.

A shrink packaging machine is also available for packing dry foods and other products like soap.

Aside from manufacturers, the Center also have walk-in clients from the Association of Negros Producers and church groups involved in livelihood programs. TLDC, headed by program manager Ricardo Calseña, was set up in 2002 and is currently working with the Canadian Executive Services and the Canadian International Development Agency, which have sent experts in marketing, production improvement and product quality development to train rural entrepreneurs in Negros Occidental.

The program is being participated by TLDC clients in Rural Enterprise Development Program and by local TLDC coordinators.

Also at the inauguration rites yesterday were CESO Country Manager Timothy Moiket, CESO-Visayas Program Manager Menchie Kho and GAMANO president Bing Gonzaga.

TLDC also implements the Backyard Swine Production and Marketing Assistance and the "Kabuhi" Project, an integrated community development program aimed to the management of community-based livelihood projects.*NLG

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