LA TRINIDAD: Three areas of Benguet are set to benefit from the livelihood project as part of the closure agreement between the government of the Philippines and the former Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army (CPLA) under the economic reintegration component.
The P2.7m livelihood funds under of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process (OPAPP) will be coursed through the provincial government which is designated as the fund manager.
The provincial government represented by Governor Nestor Fongwan and members of the former CPLA group now tagged as Cordillera Forum for Peace and Development (CFPD)- Peoples Organisation, through the Benguet Saguday Livelihood Association, Inc (BSLAI) represented by its president Carlito Payangdo, inked a memorandum of agreement on the livelihood project at the Provincial Capitol last August 13.
Also present during the activity was OPAPP Program Management Office Chief Director Alexander Umpar.
Fongwan told recipients from Cabiten in Mankayan, Camp 3 in Tuba and Palina in Kibungan to work out registration requirements from concerned agencies and the other requirements prior to the release of initial funds to the association.
Funds will be released in tranches.
The first tranche worth P270,000.00 will be used to purchase construction materials. The next tranche amounting to P1.89m will be released upon compliance with the process and project requirements, upon approval of project proposal and after disbursement report shall have been verified. The last tranche amounting to P540,000.00 will finally be released upon submission of certificate of project completion, terminal report, sustainability plan among others.
According to OPAPP Technical Staff Jenny Mordeno, identified projects under the program are raising of organic free-range chicken side by side with organic feeds processing and a rolling store where organic inputs will be traded.
Parties to the agreement as agreed will adopt the Community-Driven Enterprise Development concept of the Department of Social Welfare and Development which focuses on capability building and business values formation that inculcates participation and empowerment.
Agencies
