SURIGAO DEL NORTE – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) joins the national government’s Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Program in support of farmers and fisherfolk in the municipalities of Santa Monica and Socorro, 2 and 5 July 2021.
A total of 200 farmers and fishermen, 100 from each municipality, received assistance from AHON through the joint efforts of the national government’s implementing agencies and other official instrumentalities.
DTI, as one of the implementing agencies, was represented by Assistant Secretary (Asec.) Reveree Niño C. Contreras.
Asec. Contreras, during his discussion, highlighted Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) for those who desire to have additional livelihood assistance for the recipients’ businesses.
The DTI-Surigao del Norte staff also conducted profiling of micro-entrepreneurs for a possible livelihood enhancement support and facilitated an on-site business name registration.
AHON aims to accelerate and harmonize the distribution of aid and humanitarian operations during disasters and emergencies. It was through President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Executive Order No. 137 that AHON was institutionalized for an “enhanced and unified delivery of social amelioration services.”
The component programs of AHON, which will be implemented by various government agencies, include food and non-food relief items, livelihood assistance and/or interventions, educational, burial, employment, transportation, medical and health assistance, direct financial assistance and infrastructure for preparedness and rehabilitation.
Also present in the activity were Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin M. Andanar, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Victor Luis Juan H. Neri, Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Kristine Y. Evangelista, Office of Senator Christopher Lawrence Go represented by Daryl Cris Daya, Office of First District Representative Hon. Francisco Jose “Bingo” F. Matugas II represented by Felicitas M. Gonzales, Provincial Governor Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas, Board Member Edgar T. Andanar, Santa Monica Mayor Fernando N. Dolar, Socorro Mayor Felizardo A. Galanida and national government’s counterparts from Technical Education, Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine National Police and Local Government Units of Santa Monica and Socorro. ♦
Date of Release: 8 July 2021