DOLE gives Bontoc orgs funds to up services

By Wabilyn M. Lomong-oy

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Two accredited organizations of this capital town were recipients of the Community Enterprise Development Program of the Department of Labor and Employment and were given funds to improve their organizations.

Lukkat Irrigators Association of Talubin and Longso Livelihood Organization of Mainit were beneficiaries of livelihood assistance amounting to P200,000 each.

The Lukkat Irrigators Association is processing canton in different flavors such as pechay, squash, and malunggay.

The Longso Livelihood Organization is processing basi, sugar, and inti as their primary products since the barangay Mainit is very rich with “unas” being the main ingredient for the processing of the said products.

The ceremonial turnover of checks was conducted last Jan. at the mayor’s office headed by Mayor PascualSacgaca, new DOLE provincial head Samuel Lasdacan and Jocelyn Cullaling, also officer of the government agency.

It was witnessed by Talubin barangay chair Alfredo Bawiyan and Mainit BC Jose Kedawen.

According to Lasdacan, the involvement of barangay officials in the project was important as it was barangay officials who were utilized to look for interested organizations that will benefit from the project.

Lasdacan added barangay officials were knowledgeable on the existing organizations and basis in choosing organizations were that they should have been in existence and they had already established their names and products.

He added the barangay shall help the association in purchasing materials so these will undergo legal procurement and so money will be used wisely for intended materials.

Sacgaca urged organizations to be united and hardworking in the promotion of their products.

He added the two associations were lucky being the beneficiaries of the program.

He advised them to promote, and package their products considering the capital town has started its tourism promotion wherein foreign and local tourists were among consumers. Meanwhile, members of the organization extended their thanks to DOLE representatives for granting them the checks. They assured the maintenance and sustainability of the project.