Koronadal City, South Cotabato –The Department of Trade and Industry Region 12 through its Sultan Kudarat Provincial Office distributed livelihood starter kits to qualified beneficiaries in the far-flung barangays of New Calinog and Capilan in the municipality of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat through its Livelihood Seeding Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB) to elevate the living conditions of the economically challenged residents through entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
A total of 28 residents were beneficiaries from the two barangays who received livelihood starter kits ranging from rice retailing, carenderia, sewing, carpentry, baking, vegetable vending, and fresh and dried fish vending in a turnover ceremony held in the town centers on 16 September 2021.
New Calinog and Capilan are highland agricultural barangays in Lebak with residents primarily cultivating coffee, cacao and corn. It can be reached through mostly unpaved bumpy roads usually traversed by residents for two hours onboard a motorcycle taxi which they locally call “habal-habal.”
Among the beneficiaries are members of the Dulangan Manobo tribe who were also given a simplified lecture on financial literacy to capacitate them in properly managing their income arising from their small business and other agricultural endeavors.
In a statement, DTI R12 Regional Director (RD) Jude Constantine S. Jaugan said that the goal of the LSP-NSB program is to extend the services of the agency to the grassroots communities.
“We want that the programs and services of DTI to reach the farmers, fisherfolks, and indigenous peoples so we can pave the way for inclusive growth particularly in the countryside,” said Jaugan.
DTI R12 through its Negosyo Centers is coordinating with the local barangay officials for the establishment of the NSB hubs in every barangay of Region 12 which will serve as an extension of rendering the services of the agency.
“Here in Region 12, we have accomplished 55% already, and we aim that in no time all the barangays will have an NSB hub so the people will have easier access to information on the programs and services of DTI,” added Jaugan.
Aside from the livelihood starter kits, beneficiaries will also be assisted by DTI through its Negosyo Center with other business-related interventions to sustain the business. The LSP-NSB is a program of DTI that aims to provide a wider reach of business development package assistance, especially to remote barangays and communities, by bringing closer and making convenient the services of DTI and other national line agencies. ♦
Date of Release: 17 September 2021