25 IPs complete livelihood skills training
Lumad beneficiaries of a livelihood training initiated by the military, town officials of Claveria, Misamis Oriental, government agencies and nongovernment organization have received tool kits after finishing the course.
The 58th Infantry Battalion, Claveria officials, Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) and Balay Mindanaw turned over the tool kits to some 25 lumad beneficiaries of Barangay Minalwang who have finished the baking training.
The tool kits were distributed during the closing ceremony on Friday, December 7.
Among the participants of the training were wives of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) stationed in the said village.
The livelihood training facilitated by the Balay Mindanaw was part of the community support program of the government.
Aside from the tool kits, the participants were also given allowance for the duration of the training and their National Certificate II for their skills were also being processed.
The military said the skills they learned and acquired through the training will open a new window for several job opportunities that will help them uplift their economic living within a poverty stricken community.
TESDA and the local government of Claveria have helped deliver the basic services to the people in the far-flung barangay.
The military added the beneficiaries now have the means to start their own small-scale business for extra income and through the training the barangay will become a resilient community that will resist the influence of the New Peoples Army (NPA) seeking to discredit the government.
“I am happy that the IP community of Barangay Minalwang seeks to develop their lives by taking this livelihood training. They want to show that NPA were just full of empty promises and lies to organize their community but it is our own government that will really help the community and bring them peace and development which they have long seek to enjoy,” 58IB commander Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Derilo said.