MATUNGAO, Lanao del Norte (PIA) —- Ninety-seven internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City who are currently sheltered in Bakwit Village of Barangay Pangi here underwent skills training facilitated by Sumpay Mindanao.
Sumpay Mindanao in partnership with St. Laurence Institute of Technology in Iligan CIty provided trainings on Bread and Pastry Production NCII, Cookery NCII, Dressmaking NCII, and Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII to the IDPs starting in July 2019.
Sumpay Mindanao Project Coordinator Joel O. Cuabo reminded the graduates to utilize their skills to help them recover from the losses wrought by Marawi siege.
“Iyong natutunan nila sa training, huwag isantabi. Gamitin ito para makatulong sa kanilang hanapbuhay,” said Cuabo.
(They should not put aside what they have learned from the training. They should utilize it to help them eke out a living.)
Promoting convergence, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) committed ITSELF to provide livelihood starter kits to the IDP-graduates.
Criste Perfecto of DOLE-Lanao del Norte explained that the starter kits, which will be distributed on Nov. 13, “are not for sale and the IDPs are not allowed to sell these as well.”
To ensure that the starter kits will not be sold, the Sumpay Mindanao and Paglingkawas (Incentivizing Compliance Program) will sign an agreement with the beneficiaries.
The graduates are part of the150 beneficiaries of the project dubbed “Reintegration Support to the Internally Displaced by the Marawi Conflict in the Municipalities of Saguiaran and Piagapo, Lanao del Sur and Iligan City, Philippines” by Sumpay Mindanao, Inc. and supported by Caritas Germany.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also committed itself to provide entrepreneurial training to the IDPs to enhance and develop their products.
DTI – Iligan, however, will also give training to enhance and develop their products and/or businesses.
After graduation, the completers have undergone a planning workshop to plot their possible livelihood activities which will be implemented for two years.
Sumpay Mindanao will work closely with the graduates, as it provides more trainings, coaching, and linking with other stakeholders for access to capital and other services. (LEAntonio/PIA ICCC, Photos from Sumpay Mindanao)
