MALABON CITY, (PIA) -- Former urban poor members of Kadamay, who recently formed cooperatives in Malabon City, stand to raise their income through the livelihood packages presented here this morning by the Duterte Legacy Caravan: Barangayanihan Towards National Recovery.
This was announced by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief PMGen Vicente Danao Jr. during the blessing and ceremonial turnover of the Malasakit Livelihood Center in Sitio 6 Dumpsite, Barangay Catmon.
"Meron na tayong target market. Bibilihin lahat ng SM," PGen Danao said, referring to the officers and members of the newly formed JUPCMO (Joint United People of Catmon Malabon) and SIBOL (Simula ng Isang Bagong Oportunidad sa Lipunan) Consumers Cooperatives whose nascent cottage industry, which the NCRPO and other stakeholders helped put up and hook-up with mall giant SM Supermalls.
PMGen Danao also led the distribution of livelihood and cooperative capital fund.
"Tunay na mababago ang inyong buhay," said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Dino, who represented Interior Secretary Eduardo Año in the event that brought services and assistance closer to COVID-hit individuals and former affiliates of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs).
Secretary Año, for his part, shared his message virtually, and said, "Dahil sa iyong bukas-palad na pakikipag-ugnayan ay napapatunayan natin na seryoso tayo sa ating tungkulin bilang pamahalaan--ang mapabuti at mapagaan ang buhay ng mga maralita."
While, Mayor Lenlen Oreta personally thanked President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for bringing the Barangayanihan Caravan to Malabon City's urban poor community.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, through National Capital Region Director Vicente Gregorio Tomas, also extended financial assistance to close to 500 urban poor members of the cooperatives.
The Duterte Legacy Caravan: Barangayanihan is a joint project of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), along with the DILG and the Philippine National Police (PNP), Joint Task Force NCR of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and a collaboration of government agencies, as well as volunteers from the Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and other force multipliers.
According to Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar, since President Rodrigo Roa Duterte assumed office in 2016, his agenda of "Tapang at Malasakit" resulted in a chain of positive changes in the Philippines, from the reduction of crime incidents, corruption, and other societal ills to the clearing of barangays from drugs and even from local communist armed conflict.
Secretary Andanar said through the "Tapang at Malasakit" agenda, President Duterte institutionalized good governance in the government to which all agencies adhere to.
This campaign aims to inform the public about the government's programs, policies, accomplishments, and efforts to bring about real change to the lives of the Filipino people by showcasing real stories from the beneficiaries in their respective localities of the administration's landmark policies and programs -- a legacy and embodiment of the President's Whole-of Nation Approach.
Further, the caravan intends to bring the basic services of the government to the grassroots level and offers on-ground activities for the participants.
To recall, sometime in early March 2017, hundreds of members of the group Kadamay or Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap and other informal settlers illegally occupied an idle housing project of the National Housing Authority, in Pandi, Bulacan.
Madelaine Cajipo, a former Kadamay member, who represented the groups JUPCMO and SIBOL Consumer Cooperatives during the event, profoundly thanked the government, and at the same time expressed their groups' dismay for being duped by the communist backed organization and used for illegal mass actions earlier.
"Nakakaiyak po dahil hindi ko inaasahan na mangyayari po sa atin ito. Salamat po sa lahat po ng tumulong. Akala po namin ang Kadamay ang makatutulong dati sa aming mga panawagan na ngayon naman po pala ay hindi," said Cajipo, who also used to scavenge trash at the dumpsite for a living.
PMGen Danao, for his part, also said the Duterte Legacy Caravan: Barangayanihan also provided relief amid the COVID-19 crisis. (PIA-NCR)