Monitoring the SPIADFI interventions in Southern Leyte.

Bert Galdo and wife Josie in the family's bamboo furniture shop. Shown is the newly finished dining table.

Mr. Herbert “Bert” Galdo, 24 years old from Bontoc, Southern Leyte was endowed with skills on bamboo furniture making.  he started at an early age of 8 and has wide experience of furniture making during his employment with several furniture shops.  He married Josie Abad from Hinundayan and blessed with 2 children.  The family was a member of Hubasan Women Health Organization.  The assistance given by SPIADFI to their POs including Hubasan enabled the Galdo family to establish a bamboo furniture shop.  Bert started the business with a Php2,500 loan assistance from SPIADFI.  His wife managed to do the accounting and helped in varnishing of finished products.   Not long after, their products were sold like hotcakes.  Orders from other places were listed and they were able to get a place in the market where they displayed the bamboo furnitures.  After a year of operation, they employ 4 workers to cope up with the current volume of buyers especially during the town fiesta and centennial celebration.   They also displayed their products in Maasin City during Province Anniversary Celebration.  Since then, the family income increased by 40% with an average net sales of P5,000/month.  At present, they maintained 6 laborers and the family never expected they can own and even expanded their furniture shop.