Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday went to a remote town in Ilocos Norte to show the government’s earnest effort to bring lasting peace in the country before rebel returnees and families affected by local armed conflicts.
Welcomed by a crowd that includes former members of the New People’s Army (NPA), Bello brought with him the various assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for displaced workers led by its Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) in the town of Currimao.
Currimao is the location of one of the Philippine Army’s Infantry Division under Gen. Krish-Namurti Mortela which is partnering with DOLE for the implementation of the nation-wide End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program.
During simple awarding ceremonies for the DILP projects, Bello thanked the beneficiaries from the towns of Pinili and Marcos for their trust in government.
“Rest assured that the government will continue to help you recover from the damages caused by the fighting,” Bello said in the gathering.
“We have just started delivering DOLE programs in your place. More will come in the future in case you ask for them,” he added.
Around P1.4 million in DILP projects were awarded to 35 beneficiaries from Pinili while 35 recipients from Marcos got more than P1.2 million.
“The projects are mostly into cattle-raising,” the Labor chief added.
Bello’s visit to Currimao is part of DOLE’s caravan of financial and livelihood programs in Ilocos Province to boost government presence in the countryside amid the lingering pandemic.
After Currimao, he proceeded to the Laoag National Highschool in Laoag City to implement DOLE’s flagship program Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, from which more than 500 beneficiaries received over P2 million in payouts.
Earlier, the Cabinet official distributed check payments for the services of 146 contact tracers of Ilocos Norte provincial government at the Laoag Transport Terminal.
He also awarded livelihood assistance and certificate of eligibility to 24 beneficiaries amounting to P3.2 million.
Bello brought the same DOLE programs to Vigan, Ilocos Sur during the three-day caravan in the north.
Source: Department Of Labor and Employment Republic of Philippines