Farm tractors and a flatbed dryer were turned over recently by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Capiz provincial office to the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) barangays in Cuartero town.
DOLE–Capiz officer-in-charge Wilfredo Santizo said that three farm tractors, each worth P1 million, were given to identified registered farmers’ association of barangays Mahunodhunod, Putian, and Carataya, while a flatbed dryer worth P800,000.00 was turned over to San Antonio, all in the municipality of Cuartero.
These barangays have been cleared by the government troops and Philippine National Police from the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels’ presence and influence.
“Putian has already been a recipient of a flatbed dryer from DOLE,” Santizo said, noting that the agency will also provide a fund for the 51-former rebels and supporters’ native chicken production project in the barangay.
The turnover ceremony was graced by Cuartero Mayor Tito Mayo and barangay officials.
Santizo said that the farm equipment and post-harvest facility is DOLE’s contribution to the whole-of-nation approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).
The agency is a member of the Poverty Reduction and Livelihood Economic Cluster (PRLEC) of the ELCAC task force from the national, regional, and provincial levels.
A service caravan was also conducted by the PRLEC of ELCAC in Capiz last September 2020 to launch the Community Vegetable (COVEG) Farm in Putian that served as a springboard to other government projects and programs in the barangay as well as the other RCSP villages of the town.* (PIA)