BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Fifty two former rebels in Negros Island have availed of livelihood kits from the Department of Trade and Industry, through its Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay program, which was separately distributed in San Carlos City, Negros Oriental, and Tanjay City, Negros Oriental.
The Negosyo Serbisyo Sa Barangay (LSP-NSB) is a program of DTI that allows a wider reach of business development assistance by bringing government services closer to the people through partnerships between local government units, government agencies.
DTI Region 7 director Nimfa Marcos-Virtucio said that each of the 20 former rebels in Negros Oriental received P8,000 worth of “negosyo kits”, in a press statement from the 302nd Infantry Brigade.
Mayor Renato Gustilo, assisted by representatives of the DTI and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPPAP), led the distribution of livelihood kits also to 32 members of the KAPATIRAN, formerly known as the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade, on October 13 at the covered court of Brgy. 3 in San Carlos City.
The beneficiaries availed of a P6,000 livelihood kit also from DTI.
Engiemar Tupas, Senior Trade Industry Development Specialist said that members of KAPATIRAN are very fortunate to have received livelihood kits as part of the agreement between OPAPP and the DTI.
OPAPP provincial coordinator Jason Encinares disclosed that the livelihood kits should be used for livelihood business and not for personal consumption, stressing also they will monitor the status of their business, to avail more livelihood assistance from government agencies.
Ma. Nova Sollesta, Local Economic Investment Promotion Officer of Negosyo Center, also said that San Carlos City government has been supporting the KAPATIRAN by providing members livelihood skills training.
As a member of the Negros Oriental Task Force-End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF-ELCAC), the DTI-Negros Oriental puts focus on boosting the livelihood and business environment in the far-flung (ELCAC) barangays thereby prioritizing support to former rebels for them to go back to mainstream society and becoming productive citizens, Virtucio said.
DTI-Negros Oriental said it remains committed to the 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda of the national government and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to leave no one behind.*
