Carcar Shoemakers
Village Support Project

Shoemaking is part of the rare heritage of the people of Carcar, Cebu. It has been in existence since time knows when and has been passed down from generation to generation. Even up to this day, there are 435 cottage-based shoemakers in Carcar town alone. One might wonder how could these shoemakers compete with branded shoes which come by the dozens. The answer appears to be very simple. - - - "by sticking to selling prices set a decade ago." Thus, it’s no surprise if these shoemakers are finding it hard to make both ends meet or worse, finding themselves poorer each day despite their increasing volume of production.

In the past, DTI-Cebu have assisted Carcar shoemakers interms of financing and marketing but it seems not enough to generate concrete and measurable results. To show that DTI-Cebu continuously cares for these sleek and comfortable Carcar shoes, it ventures another project aptly titled CARCAR SHOEMAKERS VILLAGE SUPPORT PROJECT under President Estrada’s D.R.I.V.E. program. The project aims to answer the myriad needs of the traditional shoemaking industry in the sleepy town of Carcar by using and integrated approach.

During the months of July and August 1998, DTI-CARP associates administered a BENCHMARK SURVEY OF Carcar shoemakers to serve as baseline data for organizational needs assessment and as part of DTI’s resource mapping. Revealing data were gathered like: 1. most of theses shoemakers are held captive by usurers who are charging exorbitant interest; 2. no sharing of technology among shoemakers; and 3. lack of support form LGU.

After assessing the common needs of shoemakers, DTI-Cebu conducted a training on CREDIT MANAGEMENT AND DELINQUENCY CONTROL last September 17-18 at Can-asujan, Carcar with shoemakers from Liburon, Prrelos and 

This is just the start of making Carcar Shoemakers as one successful Craft Village Enterprise. So, if you care for sleek Carcar shoes, "sakay na sa J.E.E.P. ni Erap with DTI-Cebu on the D.R.I.V.E.