TANUDAN, Kalinga – The Department of Trade and Industry provincial office and its partners recently launched a heirloom rice production project for the indigenous peoples of Barangay Gaang this municipality for their living and source of additional income.
The project is for the Gaang Tribal Unity for Development (Gatud), a people’s organization organized under the Integrated Natural Resources and Environmental Management-Livelihood Enhancement Support (INREMP-LES) Project.
DTI Provincial Director Renie Ramos said INREMP-LES Project is a three-year undertaking funded by the Asian Development Bank in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Its four components include institutional strengthening, establishment and operations of shared service facilities enterprise strengthening, and project monitoring.
Ramos said the project aims to increase the sales from commodities produced by upland farmers in the identified areas through the introduction of value-adding, skills and entrepreneurial capacity building, and market linkages.
He challenged the organization members to engage more in the production of heirloom rice and other organic products now that they are reached by good road network.
“Now that you already have access to a road network, use them to transport your products. Dream of bringing your products not only to Tabuk City but also to nearby provinces outside the region,” he said.
Gatud President Pedro Dumallay expressed his gratitude for the livelihood project.
DTI-Kalinga also recently opened the 2021 Kalinga Local Producers Exhibit along the provincial road at Bulanao, Tabuk City.
The activity, participated in by 37 food and non-food local producers, signals the coming back of micro, small, and medium enterprises to engage in business amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. – Peter A. Balocnit
