Since its pilot implementation in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has launched ten (10) projects under the Support Services Intervention (SSI) of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) modality, as of today, March 17, 2021.
The SSI is a unique feature of the MCCT that aims to provide more opportunities for the Indigenous Peoples who are beneficiaries of the program, to facilitate improvement in their economic, socio-cultural aspirations and conditions.
The following are the livelihood projects handed by the DSWD Field Office Caraga:
- Poblacion General Merchandise in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur
- San Andreas Agrivet Supply in Bunawan
- Magbangon General Merchandise in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte
- Siagao Lending Office in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur
- Catabadan Lending Office in San Miguel
- Mahayahay Hog Raising in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte
- Maraiging Micro-Lending in Jabonga, Agusan del Sur
- Poblacion Micro-Lending in Lingig, Surigao del Sur
- Mahayahay Micro-Lending in Lingig
- San Ignacio General Merchandise in Trento, Agusan del Sur
For launched projects under the micro-lending, SSI aims to target individuals and small businesses who lack access to conventional banking and related services, including provision of small loans to poor clients, socially marginalized, and geographically isolated to help them become self-sufficient.
In one of the turn-overs in Lingig, 4Ps Regional Program Coordinator Crislea Celeste reminded the association members that the project launching is a product of faith and trust.
“Kaning atong turn-over karon, produkto ni sa pila ka tuig na pagsalig ninyo sa DSWD, ug pagsalig usab namo sa inyuha. Kamo isip asosasyon nga nagmugna ani nga grupo nag-agi sa kalisod, sa amo sang kabahin, dili sab siya lalim nga katuigan… kay kinahanglan siguraduon nga ang proseso klaro ug naay saktong basehan, mao nga naa ning Regional Interim Guidelines (This turn-over is a product of your trust in DSWD, and also our trust with you. As an association, you have experienced hardships, and it was also uneasy in our part… because we have to ensure that the processes are right and has the proper basis, thus the formulation of Regional Interim Guidelines),” Celeste noted.
The crafting of the RIG on Community Procurement and Financial Management for MCCT Livelihood Associations fast-tracked the realization and implementation of the projects. The RIG is developed for the purpose of setting guidelines for community participation in procurement, based on the guidelines set in the Kalahi-CIDSS Community Based Procurement Manual (CBPM).
To date, there are 85 livelihood projects targeted to be launched within the first semester of this year.###(Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)
