BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Cordillera office of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-CAR), in partnership with the provincial government, successfully turned over livelihood items to residents from various municipalities of Mountain Province at the Governor’s Mansion in this capital town November 26, 2024.
The livelihood assistance is part of the DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or the Kabuhayan Program component of DOLE which provides grant assistance for the start-up, enhancement, or restoration of lost livelihood for disadvantaged (vulnerable, marginalized, displaced) individuals or groups in the informal sector.
A total of 167 livelihood beneficiaries received various livelihood equipment during the said turnover ceremony. The beneficiaries, who represented the different municipalities in the province, included seven (7) parolees, 21 parents of child laborers, and 139 regular participants.
According to the program coordinators, 17 types of livelihood projects were supported with specific equipment for each recipient. These projects included businesses related to farming, vegetable production, baking, carpentry, welding, car wash and air services, snack houses, street food vending, sari-sari stores, coffee processing, milling, printing, wellness and spa services, sewing, weaving, organic feed production, and hog raising.
The turnover ceremony was led by Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr., alongside Regional Director of DOLE-CAR Nathaniel V. Lacambra. Also present were Vice Governor Francis O. Tauli, Board Members Ezra Samson A. Gomez, Joshua B. Fronda, Johnson D. Bantog II, and Ricardo M. Masidong Jr., Dionisio K. Wacdisen, who represented Congressman Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr, Livelihood Development Specialist Consultant Samuel Lasdacan, Councilor Edna B. Capuyan of Bauko and Barangay Captain Basilio S. Anengyao of Maligcong, Bontoc, all of whom delivered inspiring words to the attending recipients.
In his message, Governor Lacwasan expressed his gratitude to DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma, through the latter’s representative, for recognizing the well-coordinated leaders of Mountain Province and bringing livelihood programs like this to the province. Moreover, he encouraged the province’s constituents to continue working together to create more opportunities for the community.
Meanwhile, Lacambra also shared words of encouragement, saying, “Ti leaders iti Mountain Province ket agkaykaysa, nasayaat ti timpuyog da. Kayat na nga sao-en diyay, solid da nga leaders iti Mountain Province. Agsipud ta nakitak ti timpuyog ken panagkaykaysa yu, dakami iti gobyerno, nang-nangruna unay nga tulungan mi dagidiyay umili nga ammu da nga tulungan ti bagbagi da.”
He, too, congratulated the beneficiaries for their hard work and commended them for their clear vision in identifying the resources they needed for their livelihoods. By Hail, MP
