TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Fifteen barangays in Tabuk are set to receive livelihood grants under the PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn-Sustainable Livelihood Program (PAMANA-SLP), a program implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity with other government line agencies, which targets conflict-affected or vulnerable areas.
Among the fifteen barangays are Amlao, Bulo, Dilag, Gobgob, Ipil, Lacnog East, Lacnog West, Lucog, San Juan, Calaccad, Guilayon, Calanan, New Tanglag, Magnao, and Nambucayan.
Each barangay will receive a grant of Php 300,000 each year from 2023 until 2025 for a total grant of Php 900,000, said Ma. Cherita Seichi Tuvera, PAMANA program focal person of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera (DSWD-CAR), during the orientation with Mayor Darwin Estrañero on Feb. 27, 2023.
The livelihood grant will specifically go to so-called SLPAs or Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations, which will be organized in coordination with barangay officials as they are the ones who would know the individuals in the community who are best suited to the program, according to DSWD-CAR Provincial Coordinator Macfarlyne Bumosao.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will be helping in the implementation of the program in terms of giving technical assistance to the SLPAs during the preparation of their project proposals.
Under the PAMANA modality of the KALAHI-CIDSS or the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services program, 22 barangays will also benefit from a total of Php 26.4 million grant for infrastructure projects, according to Beatriz Antonio of the DSWD-CAR.
As previously reported, Agbannawag, Amlao, Bagumbayan, Bulo, Cudal, Dilag, Dupag, Gobgob, Bulanao Centro, Lacnog East, Lacnog West, Lucog, Nambaran, San Juan, Calaccad, Naneng, Guilayon, Calanan, New Tanglag, Magnao, Nambucayan are the pre-identified barangays that will receive PhP 1.2 million each under the program which primarily targets indigenous peoples (IPs) and ELCAC (End Local Communist Armed Conflict) communities.
Antonio said she and the team assigned in Tabuk will be helping the barangays in identifying their most pressing infrastructure needs that are “peace promoting and conflict sensitive”.
As its counterpart, the city government is providing an office space for the employees of DSWD-CAR who will handle the implementation of the socio-economic program in Tabuk.