Sitio Liglig, Tanglag in Lubuagan, Kalinga is a farming village that can be reached by a two-hour hike across rugged terrain and crisscrossing rivers. Tanglag came to prominence at the height of the community protest against the construction of the Chico River Dam in 1976 during the Marcos government. Residents protested the dam project for fear it would submerge farms and communities.
Last November 2019, Tanglag along with barangays Mabaca and Poswoy in Balbalan were categorized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as New People’s Army-influenced barangays while barangays Western Uma, Upper Uma, Lower Uma in Lubuagan; Guina-ang in Pasil; Balantoy (Sitio Ligayan), Gawaan, and Ababaan in Balbalan; Baay, Apatan, Wagod, Ammacian (Sitio Bonnong), and Limos in Pinukpuk; and Dupag, Tabuk City were labeled as less influenced.
We joined Department of Labor and Employment-CAR Director Nathaniel Lacambra, DOLE Kalinga Provincial Director Avelina Manganip, DOLE-CAR TSSD Chief George Lubin, Jr., and SLEO Lourdes Canseco to deliver farm equipment for the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) project for the Tanglag Community Organization for Unity and Development (TaCOUD). The postharvest facility consists of two units of portable rice mill, two multi-thresher, and two hand tractors with complete accessories.
In Tanglag, we were met by village chief Edwin Campilis, his kagawads, and the friendly villagers. We were offered brewed coffee and inandila, a native delicacy of Kalinga made of pound malagkit (sticky rice), ladok (the brown precipitate left in coconut oil extraction) plus brown sugar or muscovado.
Lubuagan Mayor Charisma Anne Dickpus, Gov. Ferdinand Tubban’s executive assistant Elizabeth Balais, Lubuagan Public Employment Services Officer Manager Divina Tallog, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Naty Sugguiyao; and the 2nd Kalinga Police Mobile Force Company led by Lt. Col. Daniel Fakat and the group led by 50IB Commander Lt./Col. Melanio Somera also travelled with us to the village.
The DOLE also provided individual livelihood projects to villagers of Tabuk City, namely Beverly Mina, a solo parent to start up with her ornamental plant gardening project amounting to P24,000; Chandy Wangil, a person with disability for his sari-sari store, P29,840; Leticia Abawag, a solo parent for her fruit vending project; rebel returnee Charhin Dawagan for welding shop project amounting to P29,500; rebel returnee Denver Pannugan for his bread and cake making project amounting to P29,950; and Hans Karl Bagsao, a military personnel who was wounded in action for a sari-sari store project amounting to P 21,440.
DILP or Kabuhayan Program is the DOLE’s contribution to the government’s agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and substantial poverty reduction. It seeks to reduce the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers by providing them access to grant assistance for capacity building on livelihood ventures either for individual or group undertakings.
Eligible beneficiaries of the DILP are the self-employed workers who are unable to earn sufficient income; unpaid family workers; low-waged and seasonal workers; workers displaced or to be displaced; marginalized and landless farmers; marginalized fisher-folks; women and youth; PWDs; senior citizens; indigenous peoples; victims of armed conflicts; rebel returnees; and parents of child laborers.
The DOLE has been strengthening its integrated livelihood program as it slowly shifts its focus towards providing livelihood grants for people’s organizations in the far-flung barangays in the Cordillera. It is a member of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
September 14, 2024
