MALIBCONG, ABRA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillera Administrative Region (DSWD-CAR), through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) has turned over livelihood projects to two Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations on March 14-15, 2022.
As part of the ongoing effort to assist individuals and families living in Conflict-Vulnerable Areas (CVAs) in the region, DSWD-CAR turned over the Rice Mill Services Operation project to Lotot Bayabas SLPA and Poultry Raising project to Dulao SLPA, in barangays Bayabas and Dulao, Malibcong, Abra, respectively.
The livelihood projects, amounting to PHP 300,000.00 each, were funded through the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) which provided the Seed Capital Fund (SCF) used to purchase the equipment, and raw materials, among others to jumpstart the aforementioned livelihood projects.
SCF is one of the four modalities of SLP. It is a one-time capability-building grant that serves as working capital for basic starter kits, raw materials, start-up expenses for permit/s to operate, as well as large and long-live tangible assets needed in starting or expanding a micro-enterprise.
“Pagyamanan me ti panangipaay yo kadakami ti grant a mai-usar para ti daytoy napili mi a livelihood. Mentenaren mi daytoy nga rice mill ket manamnama nga makatulong daytoy iti kabarangayak. Kas makita yo, PWD iti maysa nga operator, ngem uray pay kasta aramiden na latta ti obligasyon na. Daytoy rice mill ket dakkel a tulong kadakami aglalo ta ti kaadwan ket mannalon a bumaranggay.Agyamanak iti daytoy dakkel a tulong para kadakami (We are thankful of these provision of the grant for our livelihood. We will ensure to maintain this rice mill because it will not just benefit us but also our community. Even though we have a PWD member, it will not be a hindrance for him doing his part as a member. This rice mill is of great help for us especially that most of us are farmers),” shared Leonardo Viernes, SLPA member.
The grant is part of the implementation of Executive Order 70, series of 2018 or the “Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and Directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework”. Under this ordinance, the agency has been mandated to assist former rebels and their families, as well as communities of conflict -afflicted or -vulnerable areas to have a decent living through provision of livelihood projects.
Along with the members of the association, 24th Infantry Wildcat Battalion of Philippine Army, Malibcong Municipal Police Station, Regional Mobile Force Batallon(RMFB)-ABRA, and Philippine Mobile Force Company(PMFC) assisted in the hauling of raw materials, tools and equipment, and in providing security during the conduct of activities for social preparation and during turnover.#DSWD-CAR Babble Mae Gorio, SLP Social Marketing Officer based from reports of Kaizy Joy Dalit-Pasamonte, Provincial Coordinator of Abra
