Empowerment of Women for the Sustainability of the Woodwork Industry at Pugo, La Union, Philippines

Abstract

This quantitative research design was conducted to analyze the empowerment of women in the woodwork industry at Pugo, La Union. A significant sample of industry-working women were given survey questionnaires. The study's respondents were women working in the woodworking sector in Pugo, La Union. Complete enumeration was employed in the selection of the sample. The study focused on 67 active female members of the recognized woodcarvers' guild known as PUWAI. According to the study, majority of women working in the woodworking industry were between the ages of 26 and 35, and the majority had a high school education or equivalent. Their monthly wage was less than P10, 000 on average, and the majority of them were married with contract workers. More than half of the respondents had been involved in woodworking for less than five years, attended three seminars or workshops on average, and generated one to three outputs. The respondents reported mild social and cultural obstacles as hurdles, indicating the need for more encouragement and female role models. The respondents also concurred with the economic difficulties encountered by women, underscoring the significance of policies supporting economic empowerment for the sustainability of women in the industry. The study contends that the stakeholders in the woodwork industry in Pugo, La Union must create a more inclusive and economically empowering environment to ensure the sustainability of women in the industry.