A GROUP of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) or lumad bakers in Minalwang, Claveria town in Misamis Oriental will soon have their own bakeshop as the local government and the military turned over around P168,387 for the construction of the building last week.
The construction of the bakeshop for the Minalwang Indigenous People Bakers Association (Mipba) is set to finish on the second week of February.
In a statement, the military said the project has been the product of the Army’s community support program (CSP) where troops immersed in the villages and help bridge the gap between the government and the community and deliver basic services to the people.
The project was also made possible through the cooperation of various stakeholders from Ulticon Builders Incorporated, Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Global Polytechnic Institute, Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), LGU of Claveria and Minalwang Hindangon Tribal Cooperative.
Led by government leaders and military officials, the ceremonial groundbreaking was conducted to symbolize strong ties among various stakeholders.
“The creation of cooperative bakery aims to improve the livelihood of the women’s as it will develop the income of their family and help them become resilient and sustain their financial needs,” the military said.
“I am happy that the IP community of Barangay Minalwang seeks to develop their lives by taking this livelihood and entrepreneurship. They want to show that NPA were just full of empty promises and lies to organize their community but it is our government that will really help the community and bring them peace and development which they long seek to enjoy,” 58 Infantry Battalion commander Roy Anthony Derilo said.