LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The province will be earmarking P10 million annually for the provision of livelihood and skills development training and grant of equipment to organizations in the province.
Ordinance 2023-312 principally authored by senior board member Marie Rose ‘Betbet’ T. Fongwan stated that the implementation of the aforesaid programs shall apply to all organizations or associations duly registered with the appropriate regulating agency.
Among the purposes of the ordinance include to promote the integrated and holistic development of the covered groups and associations towards their sustained management operations, livelihood opportunities and financial and economic stability; assist the organizations or associations become comprehensively responsive by availing the skills and livelihood development training programs; ensure that all livelihood and skills trainings and equipment being offered by the provincial government are appropriately coordinated and implemented at the municipal and barangay levels; improve the capabilities of the beneficiaries or recipients in the development, promotion, and marketing of their produce in partnership with other government agencies and devise, design or formulate other similar programs which are within the purview of the measure that aims to achieve and promote the autonomy of the non-government organizations.
Fongwan explained that the Special Services office under the Provincial governor’s office was tasked to implement the pertinent provisions of the ordinance.
However, interested organizations and associations wanting to avail of the benefits and privileges of the ordinance must be accredited by the provincial board.
Further, organizations and associations interested to avail of the said programs shall present to the Special Services office letter of intent with attached resolution for the availment of the grant and project proposal duly endorsed by the concerned barangay council or the punong barangay to the Provincial governor.
The ordinance created a screening and project monitoring committee which will be under the honorary chairmanship of the provincial governor with the Vice governor serving as the vice chairperson. The committee members are the Chairperson of the Committee of Trade, Industry and Livelihood, Chairperson of the Committee on Cooperatives and Civil Society Organizations, Local Economic development and Investment promotions officer – designate, Cooperative Development Specialist and additional members who will be appointed by the chairman when necessary.
The duties and responsibilities of the committee will be to create a technical working group to assist in the evaluation of proposals and shall make recommendations to the same; determine and evaluate the qualifications of the applicant organizations or associations; evaluate or assess the performance of the organizations or associations in implementing their programs or projects and recommend remedial measures on operational setbacks; create, maintain and provide up to date records and other relevant information on the overall status of project implementation; to assess and ascertain whether development programs and projects implemented are delivering results in support of the provincial development goals and plans as well as regional and national development thrusts and priorities and decide and approve recommendations of the technical working team.
Fongwan claimed that the grant of equipment to the qualified beneficiary organizations or associations that are availing of other benefits as provided by the ordinance shall be covered by a memorandum of agreement, stating the stipulations, duties, and responsibilities voluntarily agreed upon by the parties.
Moreover, there shall be a provision in the agreement that 6 months of non-use of the equipment to be reckoned from the official turnover of the same shall be a valid or justifiable ground for the retrieval of the equipment by the provincial government after the lapse of five days from notice without prejudice to the discretion or option of the province to transfer the retrieved equipment to another requesting organization or association after compliance with the prescribed requirements.
On the other hand, the cost of the grant to be given to every association or organization shall not exceed P200,000.
Board member Fongwan emphasized that the livelihood training program which includes among others, financial capability, literacy, entrepreneurial skills, and basic management skills, like collaboration or solidarity, problem solving and project management significantly resolves or contributes to the success or sustained growth and function of the organization or association which will ultimately redound to the benefits of its members, and the community and the province as well.
