VIGAN CITY, Jun. 28 (PIA) -- At least 70 residents of Sigay, Ilocos Sur received various assistance from the member-agencies of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) in Ilocos Sur and the local government unit (LGU) of Sigay through a Serbisyo Caravan.

The caravan was held at Barangay Abaccan, Sigay town on June 21 as a result of the PRLEC’s community-based dialogue cum oath of allegiance of the reoriented exploited masses on June 7.

The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) implemented basic skills training in mushroom production for 15 residents while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed food packs and hygiene kits to the households, and the Department of Agriculture (DA) awarded assorted vegetable seeds to some 65 farmers of the barangay.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also conducted basic skills training on steamed snacks making to 20 residents and awarded goat heads, hogs, chicken heads, and sari-sari store packages to some former members of the underground mass organization (UGMO).

Moreover, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) provided consultations on land issues and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) provided consultation to the indigenous peoples in the community while the LGU provided meals and snacks for the said activity.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) likewise conducted a dialogue with the residents to know their needs.

The 81^st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police also participated in the activity by providing assistance and security to the residents and the personnel of PRLEC member-agencies who went to the far-flung barangay.

The Army also provided free haircut to the residents.

Ludiviza Bandiwan, one of the trainees of the DTI’s skills training, expressed her gratitude to the PRLEC for bringing various assistance and training to their community.

“These assistance, especially the livelihood training, are helpful to all of us. As parents, who find it hard to maintain or at least put up with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PRLEC has provided us knowledge and helped improve our skills with the production of native delicacies,” she said.

With the Executive Order No. 70 of President Rodrigo Duterte, she hoped that trainings and programs like these shall continue and be likewise conducted to other communities in the country. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)