CABARROGUIS, Quirino (PIA) – In what appears to be an earnest bid to hasten the recovery of economically displaced families in conflict areas, the government provided livelihood assistance to a town-based farm group through the Department of Labor and Employment’s Integrated Livelihood Program.
According to Geraldine Labayani, in her capacity as DOLE’s provincial head, at least 79 members of the Adivay Tau Farmers Association (AFTA) received livelihood assistance through the joint efforts of the DOLE, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Army’s 86th Infantry Battalion, and the local government.
Organized under the National Task Force End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) through the 86th Philippine Army, AFTA has evolved from just a community farmers group to a registered workers association under the DOLE.
During the awarding of assistance, Labayani recalled the predicament of the local farmers, whom she said were caught between the government forces and that of the communist insurgents.
“They received kabuhayan packages composed of a banana slicer, pulverizing machine, packaging materials, dehydrator, refrigerator, and other materials for banana chips and flour production amounting to P479,225 under DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program,” said Labayani even as she enjoined the beneficiaries to make the most out of the livelihood assistance to improve their lives and the community as a whole.
Part of the livelihood assistance package includes a free training program on banana chips and flour production by Quirino State University through Associate Professor Emma G. Aspiras, campus director of Auxiliary and Enterprise Development.
Up and above banana chip-making skills, the DTI, through Junior Business Councilor Jonalyn Abon, cited the need to train beneficiaries on simple bookkeeping from where they could determine whether or not they’re making profits.
As this developed, the 86th Infantry Battalion’s Civil Military Officer, Capt. Melvin B. Pepino, made a commitment to continue assisting conflict-affected communities.
Under NTF-ELCAC, various sectors are collectively working to foster peace and provide comprehensive programs to address the concerns of conflict-displaced families. (OTBTCB, PIA Quirino)
