DAVAO CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao City has intensified its campaign on ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) by providing more relevant programs and services to the communities.
As part of this effort, the agency has provided several beneficiaries in the identified areas in conflict with entrepreneurship and livelihood assistance through Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB) and Shared Service Facility (SSF) programs. The NSB is a special program that helps the target beneficiaries in the far-flung barangays start a business. During its conduct, livelihood kits are distributed and relevant seminars or training activities are given to the participants. Meanwhile, the SSF program is an initiative that aims to assist a group of local entrepreneurs get access to highly-needed equipment or machinery.
Amid the crisis that the world has been experiencing since last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, DTI has also been proactive in finding ways to take part in nation-building. For this year, DTI-Davao City has already conducted 12 NSB in different barangays under its jurisdiction. Of this figure, three took place in ELCAC areas wherein 10 beneficiaries, who belong to the Manalu Paquibato Farmers Association, received livelihood kits on poultry farming. Each of these is worth P5,000, more or less.
Apart from the starting kits, the beneficiaries also underwent a series of entrepreneurial and consumer education seminars. These interventions are seen to aid them in growing their livelihood kits and to educate them on their rights and responsibilities as consumers.
DTI-Davao City Director Rachel S. Remitio said that through the package of assistance handed over to the beneficiaries, she is optimistic about seeing the beneficiaries improve their income one day.
“When we conceptualize and plan out the implementation of our programs, our end goal really is to let our beneficiaries experience an improvement in their lives. As with this group of farmers, we want them to increase their income and improve their livelihood activities; thus, creating a peaceful and productive community away from insurgency,” the trade official said.
In the meantime, Lucia R. Soledad, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude.
“Nagpasalamat gyud ko kay dako kaayo ning tabang sa asosasyon. Wala ko nagdahom nga muabot ning adlawa ni (I am very thankful because this is a huge help to the association. I never expected for this day to happen),” she said in tears.
Along with the effort to intensify interventions for the ELCAC areas, DTI bridges the gap in improving productivity and efficiency of small enterprises through access to better technology with SSF. This initiative assists small associations and cooperatives scale up their businesses with the provision of machines, equipment, and knowledge under a shared system.
The Ata-Manobo Women’s Association is an SSF beneficiary through the Barangay Paradise Imbac as the cooperator. This is located in an ELCAC area in Paquibato District. This group is into the production of garments and tribal costumes. As such, their SSF included three units of standard sewing machine, one high-speed edging machine, and one working table, with a total worth of P146,000.00.
According to them, they can already speed up their job since they now have their needed equipment, especially that they are not just into tribal costumes-making. They likewise accept alteration as well as sew the uniforms of schools and offices within the area and in the nearby barangays.
The association members noted that the facility from DTI will be their companion in uplifting their social participation, particularly by the youth and women of the Ata-Manobo tribe. With this SSF, their economic activities will prevent insurgency in the community.
It can be recalled that the Executive Order (EO) 70 series of 2018, otherwise known as “Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, and directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework” was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on 4 December 2018.
Based on its provisions, DTI was given a vital role in its implementation. Therefore, the Department has strengthened its interventions in ELCAC areas to achieve inclusive growth in the distant barangays. This is to reintegrate former rebels as well by helping them go back to being a civilian with ample resources and be a productive member of the community.
“We at DTI have always believed that by providing them with a sustainable source of income, we are not far from achieving long-lasting peace in these communities,” Remitio concluded. ♦
Date of Release: 21 May 2021