14 gov't agencies in Bicol sign pact to provide livelihood for poor families

Other News

BY SALLY A. ATENTO

LEGAZPI CITY – At least 14 national government agencies based in Bicol region recently signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Bicol Recovery and Economic Development (BRED) here to support the launch and implementation of the convergence program on poverty reduction.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regional office here will take the lead in the implementation of the program “Banig at Walis Tingting ng Pamilyang Bicolnon” or Bagwis Bicol to determine the needs for providing ethical financial and non-financial services to advocate poverty reduction.

DSWD Bicol regional director Arnel Garcia said the MOA will provide a framework for a partnership arrangement among the partner agencies to capacitate the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, rural women organizations, farmer’s organization and other marginalized and vulnerable sector of society. "With a sustainable livelihood framework, the program can further empower them for a long-term livelihood opportunity," he said.

Garcia said the program will focus more on the production of mats (banig) and hard brooms (walis tingting). Agencies who committed their support include Department of Agriculture (DA), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and Depart-ment of Trade and Industry (DTI), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Environment and Natural Re-sources (DENR) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).