24IB participates in launching Abra PRLEC’s “Pangkabuhayan sa Barangay”
Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija – The troops of the 24th Infantry (Wildcat) Battalion, Philippine Army led by its commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ulysis V. Laude, participated in the launching of “Pangkabuhayan sa Barangay” and Serbisyo Caravan of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) under the Abra Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) held at Brgy Ud-udiao, Sallapadan, Abra on March 24, 2021.
According to LTC Laude, his troops gave free haircut services to 35 residents of Brgy. Ud-udiao and provided security assistance during the said event.
Nenita Corro, a TESDA supervising Specialist, said that the PRLEC is one of the 12 lines of Efforts of TF-ELCAC wherein the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is the lead agency.
“We offered various courses for the residents of Brgy. Ud-udiao like Carpentry NC II, Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC II, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, and Entrepreneurship Training. For Brgy. Naguilian we offered Bread Making (Leading to Bread and Pastry Production) NC II, Service Motorcycle Small Engine (Leading to MSES) NC II, Entrepreneurship Training and Carpentry NC II," Corro said.
Another highlight of the event is the awarding of livelihood kits worth Php 7000 from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), led by Engr. Francis D. Pacio, Officer-in-Charge of the Livelihood Seeding Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay. Ten (10) qualified Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (MSMEs) from Brgy. Ud-udiao and Naguilian both of Sallapadan, Abra benefitted from the livelihood kits.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), led by Provincial Fisheries Officer Janet Dagiuo, awarded cash and food subsidy worth Php5000 to 44 beneficiaries from Brgy. Ud-udiao.
Sallapadan Mayor Garde H. Cardenas expressed his gratitude to the PRLEC member for bringing basic services and livelihood programs in their community.
“Ako po ay walang-sawang magpapasalamat sa lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno sa pagbibigay serbisyo sa aking mga constituents, lalong-lalo na sa Brgy. Ud-udiao at Brgy. Naguilian. Ipagpapatuloy po namin ang mga proyektong ipinagkaloob sa amin ng pamahalaan para sa ikakaganda at ikakaunlad ng aming komunidad,” Mayor Cardenas said.
Present during the activity were representatives of the Provincial Government of Abra; the Local Government Unit of Sallapadan, Abra; and the local government agencies in the province, to include the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP); the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Army.
Brigadier General Audrey L. Pasia, the commander of the 702nd Infantry (Defender) Brigade, said that these government initiatives intend to bring the services of the government closer to the people, especially to the remote Barangays that are vulnerable to the Communist Terrorist Group’s deception leading to their recruitment.
Meanwhile, the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army commander Major General Alfredo V. Rosario Jr. said that the 7ID as part of the Abra PTF-ELCAC will continue to support its projects and programs that will benefit the conflict-affected Barangays in the province.
