UNILEVER Philippines, together with the City Government of General Trias and its City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWD), has officially launched a livelihood partnership, named GentriAsenso, a community-based skills and livelihood program aimed at creating additional income opportunities for General Trias residents.
The collaboration was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which was attended by 121 residents, including 107 women, who expressed strong interest in skills and livelihood development opportunities.
The GentriAsenso Approach
The GentriAsenso program is anchored on three key components: Kaalaman (Educate), Kasanayan (Skills), and Kabuhayan (Livelihood). It will be implemented through a monthly barangay caravan model to bring training and livelihood support closer to communities across the city. Each cycle will accept 75 enrollees and aims to reach a total of 450 beneficiaries.
Under Kaalaman (Educate), residents are introduced to the GentriAsenso program during barangay caravan, where they learn about available training and livelihood opportunities. Through Kasanayan (Skills), participants are provided hands-on skills training led by the Gentri CSWD, gaining practical experience in hair care, beauty care, and cookery. Finally, under Kabuhayan (Livelihood), program graduates receive support through pangkabuhayan starter kits, a financial literacy workshop, and post-graduate coaching designed to help them launch and sustain jobs or small businesses based on skills learned under the Kasanayan phase.
In addition to the livelihood starter kit for all graduates, GentriAsenso will recognize outstanding trainees in every batch. The top students will receive cash rewards and have their National Certificate Level II (NCII) assessment fees waived. At the program launch, Hon. Mayor Luis “Jon-Jon” Ferrer IV of General Trias City has also committed an additional grant of ?2,000 to all graduates as supplementary start-up capital for their livelihood ventures.
Strengthening a long-standing partnership
The GentriAsenso initiative builds on the long-standing relationship between Unilever Philippines and General Trias City. Unilever’s manufacturing facility in the city, which opened in 2023, produces around 90% of the company’s locally manufactured products sold in the Philippines, with select products also exported to markets across Southeast Asia, Australia, and North America.
“Kaya proud kaming sabihin: maraming Unilever products ay proudly made in GenTri, at may mga umaabot pa sa ibang bansa through exports. World-class po ang gawa ng GenTri,” said Atty. Joseph Fabul, Head of Communications, Corporate Affairs, and Sustainability for Unilever Philippines and Greater Asia.
“Ngayon, mas pinatatatag natin ang partnership natin sa paglulunsad ng GenTriAsenso—isang community-based skills at livelihood program, katuwang ang City Government. Ang goal natin: mas maraming skills, mas maraming hanapbuhay, mas maraming pag-angat,” he added.
Hon. Mayor Jon-Jon Ferrer IV also welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing the value of partnerships between local governments and responsible multinational companies.
“Ipinapakita ng GentriAsenso kung paano nagtutulungan ang pribado at pampublikong sektor para makapagbigay ng mas maayos na kabuhayan para sa aming mga residente,” the mayor said.
In 2027, Unilever Philippines will celebrate 100 years of creating a positive impact in communities across the country, made possible through well-loved household brands such as Dove, Knorr, Surf, Rexona and many more that help make everyday life better. As it marks this milestone, the company remains committed to influencing positive change for society and the environment through innovation, sustainability, and purpose led growth. (UnliNews Online)
