BUTUAN CITY – Two displaced workers here received livelihood kits amounting to P16,000 under the 3A: Accept, Adopt, Act Program of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC).

These livelihood kits were turned-over last 19 February 2021 at DTI Agusan del Norte Provincial Office to Maria Arvie Baguhin and Nemie Lyn Clarin, both displaced workers.

Baguhin, a flight attendant of more than three years had to rest her wings, while Clarin, a senior staff of a travel and tour company had to step back in turning #travelgoals into reality – as both their companies suffered from the economic damages brought by the pandemic.

The grant of starter kits came after both Baguhin and Clarin completed a six-day intensive training and mentoring program online with business practitioners.

Provincial Director Brenda Corvera personally turned-over the kits to the beneficiaries.

“We are happy that our nominees from Butuan City and Agusan del Norte, among the many who applied from the region, were the ones chosen to take part in the pilot run of this 3A: Accept, Adopt, Act Program for displaced workers,” Corvera said.

The Agusan del Norte head expressed her delight that the Department has opened an opportunity for those who lost their jobs by encouraging them to venture in business.

“We are doubly glad that the two enrollees graduated successfully and will now join the pool of displaced workers-turned-entrepreneurs who have been assisted and equipped to face the challenge of starting their business amidst the continuing pandemic,” Corvera said.

Baguhin and Clarin are expected to utilize the given livelihood kits to bounce back and recover from the setback caused by COVID-19.

“I am thankful to have been given this opportunity which I now consider a blessing after being displaced because of the pandemic,” said Baguhin who is now tending her own online dessert shop.

Baguhin added that the livelihood kits will help her in realizing her vision of accessing a wider market with her homemade sweets. “DTI’s mandate to enable businesses has never been more emphasized in this trying time for most of us. That is why we are so much happy to be helping those who want to recover from economic loss by assisting them in any ways we can,” said Regional Director Edwin Banquerigo. ♦

Date of Release: 12 March 2021