𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆

When you think of Guimaras, your first thought is likely the sweetest mangoes in the world. But if you look closer at Guimaras, you’ll see that its most resilient resource isn’t just the fruit—it’s the women.

Across the province, from the bustling ports of Jordan to the weaving centers of Sapal and the mango plantations of Nueva Valencia, women are rewriting the narrative of local economic development (LED) . They aren’t just participating in the economy; they are actively shaping it.

Here is how empowering women is fueling a stronger, more inclusive economy in Guimaras:

From Farm to Market (and Boardroom)

For decades, women in Guimaras have been the silent force behind the province’s prime export—the mango. While men often manage the orchards, women handle the delicate processes of sorting, quality control, and value-added processing. By turning fresh mangoes into dried treats, jams, and pastries, women-led micro-enterprises are extending the shelf life of the harvest and capturing more value locally.

Weaving Heritage into Income

In the southern part of the island, women’s associations are keeping the tradition of weaving alive. But today, it’s not just about heritage; it’s about commerce. By organizing into cooperatives, these women are pooling resources, accessing microfinancing from provincial programs, and selling their products to a wider market. This transforms a cultural craft into a sustainable livelihood, ensuring that tourism revenue flows directly into the hands of local families.

Leadership at the Highest Level

This culture of empowerment is reflected from the ground up—all the way to the Capitol. Today, the Province of Guimaras is proudly led by two powerful women at the helm: Governor Ma. Lucille Nava and Vice Governor Cecille Gumarin. Their leadership sends a powerful message to every young girl on the island: that women belong in every room where decisions are made. By championing gender-responsive programs and supporting micro-enterprises, they are ensuring that local economic development remains inclusive and forward-thinking

Why this matters for Guimaras:

When a woman is empowered, the data shows she reinvests up to 90% of her income back into her family—into nutrition, education, and health. This creates a multiplier effect that lifts entire communities. In Guimaras, where the economy is a mix of agriculture and tourism, ensuring women have equal access to resources, training, and leadership roles isn’t just good social policy; it is sound economic strategy.

The Road Ahead

We are seeing progress: more women leading farmers’ associations, more female entrepreneurs at trade fairs, and a provincial government supportive of gender and development (GAD) initiatives. But we must continue to push for:

· Access to Digital Markets: Helping women take their products online.

· Leadership Training: Encouraging women to take leadership roles in local councils and cooperatives.

· Equal Pay: Ensuring that the work women do is valued equally in the books.

This Women’s Month (and every month), let’s celebrate the women of Guimaras. They prove that when you empower a woman, you empower an entire island.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙂𝙪𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙨.