BONTOC, Mountain Province – Forty-three individuals residing in End Local Communist Armed Conflict (Elcac) barangays in this municipality received livelihood kits from the Department of Trade and Industry Mountain Province on Sept. 15 at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol.
The beneficiaries are from barangays Dalican, Mainit, Guina-ang, Can-eo, and Talubin.
The livelihood kit provision initiative is part of the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program of the DTI, which aims to capacitate micro, small, and medium enterprises by giving them kits containing materials, equipment, and initial stocks to commence and improve their businesses.
The PPG assists micro-enterprises affected by fire incidents, other man-made or natural disasters and calamities, residents of Elcac barangays, and health emergencies such as the Covid-19.
The livelihood kits received by each beneficiary amounts to P8,000. The components of the kits depend on the needs identification and nature of the business ventures the beneficiaries are engaged in.
Kits awarded to the PPG beneficiaries are sari-sari store kits, weaving kits, baking kits, and food processing kits.
DTI-Mountain Province Director Mabel Banggawan informed the beneficiaries they may avail themselves of other projects to foster their business such as capacity building and product development.
Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr. thanked the DTI for the assistance provided to the MSMEs who are starting to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
“It is our hope this program will help improve the living conditions in Elcac barangays. Through this program, our constituents will see and appreciate the commitment of the government in bringing its service to the grassroots – the community,” Tudlong said.
The mayor also urged the beneficiaries to take care of the livelihood kits provi-ded to them and manage their business productively until it flourishes.
Tudlong added the municipal government continuously collaborates with national government agencies and other stakeholders to source funds to help in the recovery of local enterprises in the municipality in line with the roadmap of his administration in three years. – Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay
