The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga handed over two livelihood projects amounting to Php 300,000 each to the Tongao Pongtod Farmers Association and San Juan Youth Association in Alegria, Surigao del Norte.

The recipient associations are located in Barangay Pongtod and Barangay San Juan – two barangays in the municipality of Alegria that are classified as conflict-vulnerable areas.

Through the Executive Order 70 (EO70) Special Project of the DSWD Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the Tongao Pongtod Farmers Association was awarded an agrivet and farm supply project while the San Juan Youth Association received a general merchandise project.

During the project turnover, one of the members of the San Juan Youth Association expressed their gratitude to the national government for entrusting them with the responsibility to manage a livelihood project.

“Nagapasalamat mi nga gihatagan mi og oportunidad sa gobyerno nga mulambo pinaagi sa responsibilidad nga ilang gihatag sa amo nga i-manage ang among kaugalingong livelihood project (We’re thankful to the government for providing us with an opportunity to grow by giving us the responsibility to manage our own livelihood project).”

The Tongao Pongtod Farmers Association also shared their gratitude to the DSWD-SLP and disclosed the reason why their group opted to have an agrivet and farm supply project. “Gi-propose namo nga magtukod ani nga project kay kami usa man ka grupo sa mag-uuma ug kami naghandom nga makahatag mi og direkta nga access sa among kaubanan nga mga mag-uuma sa nindot ug maayo nga mga agrivet and farm supplies nga magamit nila (As a group of farmers, our association proposed for this project because we wanted to provide our fellow farmers in the community with easy access to quality agrivet and farm supplies which they can use).”

Both associations pledged to manage the projects well and ensure its sustainability. After the project turnover, the Local Government Unit of Alegria, through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and the DSWD-SLP staff will continue to monitor the associations and extend technical assistance should it be needed by the associations.

Under the Executive Order 70, series of 2018, the DSWD-SLP is delegated to provide livelihood interventions to former rebels and associations in conflict-vulnerable areas to help them attain a peaceful, progressive, and sustainable life.###(Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)