Cut and Sew is a livelihood program that provides employment and a steady source of income for women in the community. Under the program, the ladies of Barangay Bagong Pook supply the Nestlé Lipa Factory with uniforms (pants, shirts and jackets), laboratory gowns, hairnets, shoe covers, and rags.
What started out two decades ago as the Nestle Lipa Factory’s community outreach project for community ladies to learn needle-and-thread work under the government’s Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), has now evolved into a revenue source for locals.
The successful enterprise, which started in 1997, has also expanded in recent years to areas close to other Nestlé factories: Tanauan City in Batangas, Pulilan in Bulacan and Cabuyao in Laguna. The Tanauan site started operations in 2015 and doubled both revenue and garments made within just one year. Meanwhile, the Cabuyao site has also seen a sustained increase in income over the past three years, indicating much potential for alternative livelihood projects in these areas.
By continuing to provide livelihood opportunities to the women in the community in a sustainable manner, Nestlé is able to help fulfil its purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future.
