MOA on Livelihood Support for Typhoon Victims Signed

By Phil Paalan, Publisher-Editor, Mindanao Gazette

December 15, 2014

ILIGAN CITY –  Memorandum of Agreement on livelihood support for Typhoon Sendong affected families in resettled communities entered into by and between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team-Local Government of Iligan (LPRAT-LGU), the Local Poverty Reduction Action Team-Civil Society Organizations (LPRAT-CSOs), the Civil Society Organization Forum for Peace, Inc./Accredited Co-Partner (CSO-FP/ACP) and the project beneficiaries had been signed today by the implementing government agencies, partners and the beneficiaries of the livelihood project to improve the living conditions of the victims and live more decent life.

The MOA was signed by the City Government of Iligan represented by City Mayor Celso G. Regencia; the DILG, represented by Provincial Director Emelio T. Rana of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte; the DOLE, represented by Provincial Director Remegio S. Cabanog of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte; the LPRAT-CSOs, represented by Executive Director Regina S. Antiquisa of the Ecosystem Works for Essential Benefits, Inc. (EcoWeb) and co-chairperson of LPRAT, Iligan City; and the CSO-FP/ACP, represented by Managing Director Juanito C. Enriquez, Jr. of CSO-FP and the twenty-two (22) organizations which are beneficiaries of the livelihood support project represented by their respective presidents and managers.

The livelihood support project for Sendong affected families in resettled communities is one of the eight (8) projects funded by the DOLE under the Bottom-Up-Budgeting (BUB) Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP) Program.  The eight (8) DOLE BUB-GPBP projects involve a total funding of P7.9 M and a local counterpart fund of P3,385,714.00 or a total funds of P11,285,714.00.

The livelihood support project for the Sendong victims has a funding of P1,750,000.00.  The project will be implemented by the CSO-FP as the accredited Co-Partner of the DOLE to help Sendong victims recover from the tragedy and live normal lives.  The LGU-Iligan, the DILG, the LPRAT-CSOs are committed to support the livelihood support project for Sendong victims for sustainability for at least five (5) years. The livelihood support project for Sendong victims involves five (5) component projects, namely: 1. Organic hog raising (P200,000.00); 2. Organic chicken raising (P200,000.00); 3. Dress making/tailoring (P360,000.00); 4. Food processing (P690,000.00); and 5. Handicraft making (P300,000.00).

The other seven (7) projects funded by  the DOLE funds of P7.9 M include: 1) training and equipment support on fish processing and preservation (P300,000.00); 2) livelihood skills training for women (P200,000.00); 3) livelihood support for informal settlers (P700,000.00); 4) organic cut-flower demonstration farm development and training (P100,000.00); 5) skills training for livelihood and employment opportunity enhancement (P3,690,000.00); 6) livelihood support for displaced workers, underemployed, contract and seasonal workers (P700,000.00); and 7) enhancement of livelihood programs for PWDs (P500,000.00).

The livelihood support project for Sendong victims include: bakery enhancement; banana chips production; pasta/pancit making; bakery operation; organic chicken raising; production of bamboo and stuff toys; bamboo handicraft making; organic hog raising; carenderia operation; among others.

CSOs, LGUs Dept heads and beneficiaries of Sendong affected
families in resettled communities posed after signing the MOA.

It can be recalled that Iligan City has been a recipient of the BUB GPBP with a budget of P50 M and has approved P43 M to be implemented by the different national government agencies, such as the DOLE, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), DILG, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), among others.

The LGU-Iligan has approved the local counterpart on the BUB-GPBP program for 2014 in the amount of P16 M in the 2014 City Development Council (CDC) meeting. The twenty-two (22) beneficiary organizations with at least 621 individual members are spread out in various resettlement communities in Luinab, Upper Tominobo, Mandulog, Buruun, Dalipuga, Sta. Elena, Digkilaan, Del Carmen, and Ubaldo Laya.  The representatives of the 22 organizations, mostly presidents and managers, include Dexinie Apple Maravillas, Mary Grace Papasin, Robelyn Ablong, Anisah Alipo, Conchita Areola, Mary Jane P. Azuelo, Rosalina Monticillo, Teresita Gante, Rebecca Timbal, Saaban Cali, Erlinda Gabriel, Rocma Macarimbor, Rey Lagroma, Carlito B. Salde, Arnel Bacuaja, Letecia L. Pioquinto, Shirley Alimoren, Marissa Kindiman, Rolando Generalao, Fe Solosa, Dulcema Fiel and Mary Jane Genon.

Other ACPs to implement BUB/ GPBP DOLE funded projects are the Rural Bank of Misamis Oriental and Misamis Oriental Electric Service Cooperative (MORESCO 1) . With reports from Jun Enriquez, photo by Mariz Revales, correspondent GMA News on-line.