A total of 27 beneficiaries from the municipality of Alfonso Castaɦeda received livelihood kits containing sari-sari store and rice retailing items during the Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 – Nueva Vizcaya’s Awarding Activity under the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) Program, conducted in partnership with the Local Government Unit of the said town on 31 August 2022.
This event, which was spearheaded by DTI R2 Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Director Marietta B. Salviejo, aims to improve the economic status of the beneficiaries, especially those who were affected by natural and human-induced calamities, including health disasters, and help them recover from the negative effects of the global pandemic crisis.
“Noong una po talaga, natatakot kaming sumuko dahil akala po namin kami’y mapapasama sa kamay ng mga sundalo’t pulis. Maraming, maraming salamat po sa gobyerno… sa DTI dahil nakahanap kami ng mga bagong kakampi na tutulong sa aming pagbabagong buhay,” Mr. Viloria said on behalf of the beneficiaries, wherein 15 out of 27 are former rebels.
The former rebels also expressed their plans to pioneer an association in the town that will focus on developing and making rattan crafts. PD Salviejo pledged the agency’s full support through the Negosyo Center, manned by JBC Josie Supe, whose first intervention will be helping the group with their registration and formal/official setup.
On the evening of 30 August, 2022, before the awarding activity, the DTI R2 NV Team also paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Wilson Capia-ao, who commended the agency’s efforts in going all out to serve the people. He also expressed his appreciation to the team for visiting their town, the farthest municipality of Nueva Vizcaya.
Moreover, the team also visited the Alfonso Castañeda Multi-Purpose Cooperative to assist them with the packaging and labeling of their cocopeat products.
Also with PD Salviejo were BDD Chief Lenore Lee S. Lopez, TIDS Robelyn Mae Lising, AO II Majorie Datuin, and Technical Assistant Edward Alan Dinamling.