Koronadal City, South Cotabato — The Department of Trade and Industry 12 (DTI-12), through its Sarangani Provincial Office and Negosyo Center Kiamba, distributed livelihood assistance to 75 beneficiaries of the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) Program on 18 August 2022 in Kiamba, Sarangani.

PPG is a post-disaster response livelihood seeding and entrepreneurship development program of DTI which aims to assist individuals and families affected by fire incidents and other calamities, including health disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic, to recover and/or start their businesses.

The livelihood kits were given to 50 rebel returnees being assisted through the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), two were fire victims and the remaining 23 have been unemployed or have closed their businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Beneficiaries of the program were identified in collaboration with partner agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the barangay local government units (BLGUs). They have undergone profiling and further validation to determine their eligibility and the type of livelihood training and kits to be provided by DTI.

DTI-12 OIC-Regional Director Flora Gabunales said that DTI has already launched the PPG in the other municipalities of Region 12 to propel business opportunities and capacitate residents on how to start and manage their businesses.

“To ensure the sustainability of the businesses given to the beneficiaries, DTI has provided information materials and entrepreneurial trainings too. We will also conduct monitoring and consultation with the beneficiaries to guide them in their entrepreneurial journey,” said Gabunales.

Prior to receiving their livelihood kits, beneficiaries also attended an entrepreneurial mind-setting seminar to guide them in starting and growing their business. Among the livelihood kits given were community store, bigasan station, puto cheese station, carenderia station, tailoring business kit, manicure and pedicure station, and barbershop station.

The event was also graced by DTI Sarangani Provicial Director Ethel Laksmi Gumana, Provincial Board Member Jess Bascuña, and officials of Barangay Bagtasan, Kiamba.

Date of Release: 22 August 2022