Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, June 16, 2014 – The Municipalities of Carmen, Agusan del Norte, Loreto and Santa Josefa in Agusan del Sur received a total annual grants worth Php 10,800,000.00 for Peace and Development Projects (PDP) given to 36 Barangays respectively.
Bigasan/Bagsakan center, mini-ice plant, noodles manufacturing facility, fish and meat processing, rice/corn mills, mobile rice mills, solar dryer and pump boat are some of the identified and approved projects.
“Let us manage our business well and let us make it successful,” Barangay Captain in Poblacion Loreto, Fernando Dolores, told his constituents.
Partner agencies TESDA and DOLE, Municipal Sangguniang Bayan Officials, Barangay Officials, and DSWD staffs witnessed the ceremonial check turned-over that marked the event.
In his acceptance message, Municipal Mayor Dario E. Otaza challenged his constituents not to be dependent at all times but rather stand on their feet and use their initiative to reach their goals in life.
Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli emphasized 3 things in managing the chosen livelihood projects; one is to have a sense of ownership to the projects. Second, is to be accountable to the Government’s funds. And third, to be transparent in serving the community as the front lines of DSWD in implementing this program.
Make our implementation as excellent as possible.” RD Brigoli added.
It is recalled that PDPs have been implemented by Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) under the Pamana at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program as result of partnership between the DSWD and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).
It is a capacity-building and livelihood program developing the personal, social, entrepreneurial and technical skills of the duly selected People’s Organization (PO) composed of a group of potentially enterprising individuals within conflict affected and vulnerable areas. The project provides Php 300,000.00 worth of community cash grants yearly for three (3) years to recipient barangays to be implemented by the duly selected PO representing the community as conduit of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in implementing the projects. This initiative follows the Community-driven Enterprise Development (CDED) process aiming to complement to the existing livelihood activities of the community.
“I believed that there is development if our community is at peace.” DSWD central office Pamana Focal, Marco Macatangay said.
SLP aims to increase livelihood and job opportunity in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities; ensure transparency and accountability; and enable greater community participation in pursuing peace and development. “### Social Marketing Unit
