The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD FO CAR) has awarded seventeen (17) Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations in the different municipalities of Mt. Province on 27 February 2024.
Members of the different SLPAs gladly received the livelihood assistance from DSWD through the Sustainable Livelihood Program – Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (SLP-PAMANA). Twelve (12) out of the seventeen (17) SLPAs is now on their third and final tranche of implementation and five (5) associations have received the first tranche of the livelihood assistance. Each association received an amount of PhP 300,000.00 that will serve as their seed capital for their respective SLP-PAMANA projects.
The awarding of livelihood grants is led by the Assistant Secretary for Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns, Arnel B. Garcia, CESO II. Also present during the activity are Ret. Brigader General Bismark Soliba, consultant from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Provincial Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr., Vice Governor Francis Tauli and the Local Chief Executives and representatives from the different municipalities of Mt. Province.
SLP Regional Special Project Focal Ms. Cherita Seichi Tuvera, DSWD FOCAR’s Focal for gave a brief rationale of the activity, highlighting the major contribution of the Local Government Unit of Mt. Province in the successful implementation of the livelihood programs provided by DSWD.
Governor Lacwasan thanked DSWD for the social protection programs provided to the provinces. He also addressed the different associations saying that they must manage well the given livelihood assistance from the DSWD. He said that the success of their livelihood will become a big help to their own families, their associations, including the community as a whole.
Loufa A. Bacali, President of Bangcagan SLPA and Juliana C. Anengyao, President of Maligcong Livelihood Association also expressed their gratitude to the Agency for the assistance given and for the given opportunity to expand their livelihood.
“Ma-challenge kami iti inbagbaga ti kakadwa nga inmabot iti milyon dagiti savings nga ususaren da nga mangpaikot iti negosyo da. Kayat mi met nga madanon to met diyay isu nga es-esten mi tay menrugi kami paylang ay mang implementar isnan Buy and Sell ti B-cull, ta sya nan napili mi ay livelihood. Ket no mabalbalin ket dakamin to iti agreproduce iti B-cull ijay ayan mi. (We are challenged by the statements of the other associations that their savings has already reached millions, which they are using in sustaining their livelihood. We also want to reach that stage, so we will do our best on our first year of implementation of our chosen livelihood – Buy and Sell of B-Cull. If given the opportunity, we might be able to reproduce B-Cull on our own within the community)” said Sonia Gudaren, Treasurer of Bekigan SLPA, one of the associations to receive the first tranche of SLP-PAMANA livelihood assistance.
Their association decided to venture on the buy and sell of Broiler Cull Chickens or B-Cull in their community considering the culture of Cordillera where chicken is seen as one of the main ingredients in cooking Cordillera’s specific dish – pinikpikan.
As of writing, eight out of ten municipalities of Mt. Province namely Sadanga, Sagada, Besao Bontoc, Tadian, Barlig, Natonin and Paracelis are provided with SLP PAMANA projects. #DSWD-CAR, Jezebel L. Gumatay, SLP Social Marketing Officer
