Butuan City – Agusan del Norte Congressmen Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun and Erlpe John M. Amante of District I and II, Provincial Government represented by Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), represented by its regional director Minda B. Brigoli for the implementation of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) for the Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries on May 16, 2014 at Provincial Training Center in this City.
Agusan Del Norte SP Committee on Social Services, Elizabeth Marie R. Calo together with Sanguniang Panlalawigan Members and Provincial/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers, representatives from partners’ agencies like TESDA, DTI and Cantilan Bank, and DSWD staff witnessed the signing of the MOA.
According to Dir. Brigoli, “Let us converge our efforts and resources to see the impact to our Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries and that SLP is indeed a program which is tatak pamilya, mahusay, masipag at mapagkakatiwalaan.”
After the Signing of the MOA, SLP Provincial Coordinator, Nora P. Pantillo presented the SLP Implementation Updates. In the Municipalities of Jabonga and Las Nieves, out of 3,892 households from the year 2011-2013, there were 1,402 households who used the cash seed fund amounting to Php 13,988,000.00 under the pillar of SEA-K fund. A total of 106 beneficiaries who have accessed to employment.
This year, SLP has additional targets which are the City/Municipalities of Butuan City, Santiago and Tubay with 1,880 households to be catered. Also, in the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting a grand total of Php 6,589,264.00 allotted for Butuan City in their proposed projects entitled Integrated Livelihood Program for the Victims of Disasters and Calamities in Brgy. Bancasi worth Php 2,192,308.00. In Cabadbaran City, Institutional Development and Capacity Building (IDCB) activities for Livelihood Program for Indigenous People (Php 611,872.00), IDCB activities for Livelihood Program for Persons with Disabilities (Php 1,388,128.00), and IDCB activities for Livelihood Program for Women (Php 600.000.00). ForJabonga, Mushroom Production (Php 810,000.00), and Sustainable Livelihood Program for San Vicente and Poblacion (Php 86,957.00) and Kitcharao, Agro-Tourism and Enterprise project worth Php 900,000.00.
Also, in the Municipality of Carmen, there are 8 barangays that will be the recipients under the PAyapa MAsaganang PAmayanan(PAMANA) funds through a community annual cash grant amounting to Php 300,000.00 per barangay for a period of three(3) years. This SLP peace and development project aims to respond and strengthen peace building, reconstruction and development in conflicted affected and vulnerable areas.
District 1 Rep. Lawrence Lemuel H. Fortun, in his message, thanked the Office in the leadership through its program SLP which offers opportunities to the poorest of the poor to start and have a livelihood of its own to become self-reliant.
District II Rep. Erlpe John M. Amante and Gov. Amante-Matba also said that their leadership prioritizes the social development of their constituents in Agnor. “Poverty must not be a block for the better life.” The Government with DSWD will help to equip their skills to have a sustainable livelihood.” Gov. Matba said.
“I am very optimistic to SLP that this program can alleviate the poverty incidence in our province.” Rep. Amante added.
This activity was also a Provincial Partnership Forum and Launching of SLP in the Province of Agusan del Norte. ### Social Marketing Unit/Maria Cecilia N. Sosas
