MALITA, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL – The office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here has extended a package of assistance to some victims of the diarrhea outbreak that hit one of the barangays in its area of jurisdiction.

The Municipality of Jose Abad Santos welcomed 2021 with distressful news: a diarrhea outbreak erupted in Brgy. Butuan due to the community’s unsafe drinking water. This caused the death of one person and sent more than 20 others to the hospital after suffering severe dehydration. This unfortunate occurrence affected the daily lives of the victims, especially economically as they had to spend for their treatment and hospitalization.

Cognizant of the victims’ situation, DTI-Davao Occidental immediately extended the much-needed help. Anchoring on its mandate to promote the economic recovery in the communities, particularly among those affected by fire incidents, calamities, and the pandemic, the office, through its Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB) and Negosyo Center (NC) programs, rendered various assistance. These were aimed at supporting the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the outbreak.

In coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of Jose Abad Santos and the barangay officials of Brgy. Butuan, 20 severely affected individuals/MSMEs were identified to undergo skills training on detergent laundry soap making. After the training, the participants received laundry soap and sari-sari store starter kits as their starting capital for their new business venture.

The livelihood assistance from DTI was under the NSB and National Taskforce to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) programs, which intend to provide livelihood aid for micro-enterprises struck by calamities and other health disasters to restart their businesses. ♦

Date of Release: 8 March 2021