TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Trade and Industry-Kalinga reported a 100 percent accomplishment in the implementation of the Livelihood Seeding Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB) for the year.
DTI-Kalinga Director Renie M. Ramos said P1.9 million worth of livelihood starter kits were awarded this year benefiting 232 micro entrepreneurs in the province.
The livelihood kit amounting to P8,000 contains items to aid qualified micro entrepreneurs restore and improve their respective businesses.
On the eighth and final leg of awarding last Oct. 21, there were 68 awardees including five persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).
The five PDLs who are engaged on food processing, street food selling, handicraft making, and barber services enrolled as micro-entrepreneurs under the LSP-NSB, a pilot program of DTI that allows a wider reach of business development assistance to every sector.
Ramos said the LSP-NSB has no boundaries in selecting its beneficiaries as he encouraged the PDLs to manage their businesses productively. He said as social stigma against PDLs persists, they find difficulty in getting employment when they are released from jail, thus the program is geared in providing wider livelihood opportunities for PDLs through skills training with livelihood kits for income generation.
In a related development, cassava farmers of Barangay Pinococ in Pinukpuk underwent skills training on cassava processing conducted by DTI through the Negosyo Center-Pinukpuk.
Three cassava by-products namely cassava flan, cassava cake, and pitchi pitchi were introduced in the training.
The enhancement activity aims to provide livelihood or income generating activity among women of Pinococ using raw materials available in the community. DTI will continue provide trainings on food safety, branding, packaging and product labeling as well as marketing assistance.
Janine Geraldino Cinco Hailey’s Food Hub and a proud Kapatid Mentor Me graduate served as the trainer. – Peter A. Balocnit
