VIGAN CITY, July 19 (PIA) - - Member-agencies of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) recently awarded livelihood assistance to the municipalities of Salcedo and Sto. Domingo in Ilocos Sur.

Baluarte of Salcedo and Nagbettedan of Sto. Domingo are the only barangays in Ilocos Region included in the 822 barangays cleared of insurgency nationwide which are recipients of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the National TF-ELCAC this year.

Aside from the P20 million worth development projects from the BDP, said barangays also received assistance from the PRLEC in a Serbisyo Caravan held on July 15 and 16.

As rambutan is propagated in Salcedo, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) awarded to the indigenous peoples (Kankanaey and/or Itneg-Bago) of Baluarte the financial assistance amounting to P750,000 for the production of rambutan.

The project aims to provide additional income to the 348 identified beneficiaries after five years when they start harvesting rambutan fruits and even continue up to 30 years.

This also included some residents of barangay Santiburcio in the municipality.

An orientation on rambutan production shall also be conducted to enhance the skills and techniques of the beneficiaries on crop propagation, the NCIP said.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also awarded certificates of commitment to the two barangays to conduct skills training to identified residents through scholarships under its training for work scholarship program.

Fifteen identified residents from each barangay are set to undergo skills training on Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) NC I while 17 identified residents from each barangay are set to undergo Plaster Concrete/Masonry Surface (leading to Masonry NC II).

Moreover, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) turned-over livelihood recovery kits (sari-sari store package), through its Livelihood Seeding Program-Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB), to some 15 micro entrepreneurs of barangay Nagbettedan on July 15.

Some 15 micro entrepreneurs in barangay Baluarte also received livelihood recovery kits which included some 12 sari-sari store packages, two furniture making kits, and one food house kit on July 16.

Other participating agencies that joined the one-stop shop caravan for different social services include the Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, TESDA with the Philippine Dental Association, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Sur through the Ladies for RYAN. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)