COTABATO CITY – At least 300 households in Talipao, Sulu received livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program Expansion Cycle 2.
The households are members of 10 beneficiary cooperatives in the town, namely:
- Andalan Talipao Agricultural Producers Cooperative;
- Buntod Agricultural Producers Cooperative;
- Kabatuhan Bilaan Abdulsalam Agricultural Producers Cooperative;
- Jambangan Kabatuhan Tiis Agricultural Producer Cooperative;
- Kahawa Agricultural Producer Cooperative;
- Kandaga Agricultural Producer Cooperative;
- Kanlibot Agricultural Producer Cooperative;
- Lower Laus Agricultural Producer Cooperative;
- Mungit-Mungit Agricultural Producer Cooperative; and,
- Upper Kamuntayan Agricultural Producer Cooperative.
Faida Ensanah, regional PAMANA focal person, said the agency turned over several types of livelihood support machines and equipment, which include 1,399 rolls of hogwires and vulcanizing and sewing machines. She said the assistance will augment the residents’ agricultural production and income.
“The hogwires will help protect the cassava and vegetable plantations of the farmers in the area from stray, wild, and domesticated animals. Meanwhile, the vulcanizing and sewing machines will provide alternative sources of income for the residents,” Ensanah said.
Aiman Abdul Albani, 45, from Batuan-Bilaan in Talipao, Sulu, expressed her gratitude to the agency. She said the assistance will help uplift the economic condition of her family.
“Magsarang sukol kami kanyo katan, biang katatabangan nyu kamo, in kame mga taw miskin, natabangan mga makina, mga pukot, grarihilan nyu kame sing kamo nanghinan tasan. Na kina ku ini makina in katabangan kako na magtahi ako. Ipag gas to so mga anak ku nag iskul (Thank you for providing us these machines and equipment. These will help me start a new business and will also assist the schooling of my children),” said Aiman.
Hja. Sitti Raya Tulawie, town mayor of Talipao, accompanied Ensanah in the turnover ceremony held at Talipao gymnasium in Bilaan, Talipao Sulu on March 18, 2016.
Mayor Tulawie recognized the support the PAMANA program provides to boost agricultural harvest in Talipao. She extended her gratitude to DSWD-ARMM and the program and has renewed her commitment to the future ventures of PAMANA especially in her municipality.
The PAMANA is a program aimed at making citizens become stronger agents of peace and development in the region, and in the country. This is the current administration’s peace and development framework anchored on providing inclusive growth and lasting peace in Mindanao. (Bureau of Public Information)
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