IPs consulted on poverty reduction, better quality of life

By: Jemin B. Guillermo

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — Members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in barangay Aglalana, Dumarao, Capiz were able to express their needs through a consultation in order to reduce poverty and to improve their quality of life.

An interaction between the members of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) and the IPs in the area was led by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 6 Director Gaspar Gayona, October 14.

The IPs in Barangay Aglalana are composed of the Panay Bukidnon and the Ati.

Chaired by TESDA, the PRLEC is one of the 12 Clusters of Lines of Efforts under the Whole-of-Nation approach towards attaining inclusive and sustainable peace in the countryside by putting an end to local insurgency.

A site visit to the Aglalana IP community was also conducted together with the other PRLEC member-agencies.

Areas with influenced barangays, IP areas, settlement areas of former rebels, and remote barangays are the PRLEC’s clients under President Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70 or the Whole-of-Nation approach to end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC), Gayona said.

He said the end goal of the PRLE Cluster is to develop self-reliant, resilient, productive and sustainable communities through harmonized and culturally responsive development programs.

Gayona added “At the end of three years, we want to see not only reduction or total eradication of local armed conflict but also improvement in the lives of the IPs, improvement in the lives of those who returned to the folds of law and improvement in the barangays.”

During the IP consultation and visitation, the IPs were given free training on “peche-peche” and cassava chips making as part of the TESDA’s Capiz Training Outreach Program (CapizTOP) in partnership with the Capiz TESDA Schools Association.

Meanwhile, TESDA has included in its implementation plan for the IPs in barangay Aglalana the conduct of training on bread making leading to bread and pastries production NC II, plus masonry and carpentry. (PIA-Capiz)