DOLE gives P1.5-M for projects of Bontoc folks

Bontoc Mayor Jerome “ Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., receives from DOLE Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra the check amounting to P 1, 265,693.30 intended to assisted the livelihood projects of an organization and 10 individuals on July 7, 2022, at the Mayor’s Office of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol. Also present to witness the awarding of check are former Bontoc Mayor and now Mountain Province Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey, DOLE Regional Consultant Samuel Lasdacan, Senior Labor Employment Officer Atty. Marina Cayabo, DOLE Mountain Province Head Apollo Luspian, Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen, Labor Employment Officer III Jenelyn Caluza, and other personnel from the DOLE- CAR. // Photo by Jovi T. Lopez 

By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- One organization and 10 individuals in this municipality were beneficiaries of the Dept. of Labor and Employment Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or Kabuhayan Program. 
    DOLE regional director Nathaniel Lacambra awarded the check amounting to P 1,265,693.30 to Bontoc Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., on July 7 at the Mayor’s Office of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol. 
    The amount will be used for projects of beneficiaries.
    Tudlong expressed his gratitude to the DOLE for continuously assisting various organizations, self-employed and minimum wage earners in Bontoc and capacitating them to generate income. 
    The mayor urged recipients to manage their livelihood projects wisely for it to prosper. 
    Former Bontoc Mayor and now Mountain Province Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey, who was invited to witness the awarding of the check, congratulated recipients for approval of their respective project proposals.
    He added the failure and success of their livelihood projects depend on how they manage it.
    He urged them to attend trainings for projects to be sustained.
    Under the DOLE Group Livelihood Project, the beneficiary is the Silver Craft Designer Association comprising 50 members with a project on gong production and blacksmith.
    Meanwhile, the 10 individuals have their respective projects which include sari-sari stores, hog raising, longganisa making, chili pepper processing, food vending and enhancement of eateries.
    Labor and Employment Officer III Jenelyn Caluza said as its counterpart, the Bontoc local government allotted from its budget an amount for trainings for beneficiaries and shall conduct monitoring on the implementation of the project.
    It also provided technical assistance during preparation of project proposals. 
    The Kabuhayan Program is grant assistance for capacity building on livelihood to enable the unemployed, seasonal and minimum wage earners to start livelihood undertakings or income-generating projects (IGPs) and enable existing IGPs to grow into viable and sustainable businesses that provide income.
    It is implemented through DOLE’s Accredited Co-Partner (ACP) which is responsible for the delivery of services to the beneficiaries.
    Thus, the Bontoc LGU as an ACP of DOLE received the financial grant allotted to the recipients and shall be responsible for the procurement and delivery of equipment, materials, products, tools, and other needs of the beneficiaries for their respective livelihood projects.  
    Also present during awarding of the check were DOLE regional consultant Samuel Lasdacan, senior labor employment officer lawyer Marina Cayabo, DOLE Mountain Province head Apollo Luspian, Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen, Labor Employment Officer III Jenelyn Caluza and DOLE- CAR personnel.