DTI provides livelihood starter kits to Marawi evacuees

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Northern Mindanao has announced that it has provided livelihood projects to internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Marawi City to help them start small businesses.

Nelson Catubig, focal person of DTI Bangon Marawi, said they gave materials for garments making, which include sewing machine and sewing kits (cloth, thread, ruler, scissors, etc.), and sari-sari store start up kits with at least P5,000 worth of groceries.

Catubig said these livelihood projects were distributed to families who are staying in evacuation centers.

"So ang gagawin nalang ng mga IDPs, bibigyan sila ng start up kits, i-roll nila yung kita nila sa binigay nating startup kits. Hopefully, those projects will be sustainable para pagbalik nila ng Marawi, madala nila yung negosyo," Catubig said.

The DTI hopes the sewing kits and sari-sari store supplies will allow the IDPs to start anew and earn even while they are still in evacuation centers.

Catubig said they talked to some suppliers to provide basic commodities to areas affected by the siege, not only in Marawi but also in Lanao del Sur.

"We are hopeful that every week may maibigay tayong tulong sa mga (we will be able to help the) IDPs," Catubig said.

The provision of starter kits is in line with the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to provide livelihood to IDPs from Marawi City and other affected areas.

This also follows the Administrative Order 3 of the President, mandating the creation of an inter-agency task force that would implement the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi City and other affected localities.

DTI, as the head of the Subcommittee on Business and Livelihood, is tasked to implement an active campaign for the immediate revival of businesses and livelihood projects in the city.

Member agencies of the subcommittee are Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Science and Technology, Mindanao Development Authority, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.