RICE RESELLING. Some beneficiaries of livelihood assistance receive sacks of rice and weighing scales in Alangalang, Leyte. Some 33 recipients of the “Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa” Program in Leyte got the rice retailing supplies from the national government on Tuesday (Sept. 29, 2020). (Photo courtesy of Alangalang local government)
TACLOBAN CITY – Some 33 beneficiaries of the "Balik Probinsya, Balik Pag-asa” (BP2) program in Leyte have received livelihood assistance from the national government.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Eastern Visayas regional director Yahya Centi said each of the 33 recipients received Tuesday eight sacks of rice and weighing scales for them to start a rice retailing business.
"This is overwhelming. We really need livelihood assistance like this since we are the first region to accept BP2 beneficiaries," Centi told the Philippine News Agency.
The beneficiaries are from the towns of Alangalang, Babatngon, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa, Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Dulag, Mayorga, Tunga, Julita, Dagami, and Jaro.
Witnessing the virtual turnover were Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, DOLE Region 8 officials, and several mayors in Leyte.
Other BP2 beneficiaries will also receive assistance depending on their proposed livelihood projects.
On May 21, about 112 persons who resided in Metro Manila returned to the towns of Kananga, Matag-ob, Alangalang, Tanauan, Hilongos, Bato, Burauen, Dagami, Julita, Tabontabon, Palo, Tolosa, Isabel, Palompon, Tabango, Villaba, Abuyog, Javier, MacArthur, Calubian, San Isidro, Albuera, Merida, Tunga, Dulag, Mayorga, Carigara, Jaro, Babatngon, Barugo, Capoocan, and Matalom, and Baybay City in Leyte.
They composed the first batch of beneficiaries of the BP2 program that implements Executive Order (EO) 114 aiming to ensure balanced regional development and equitable distribution of wealth, resources, and opportunities through policies and programs that would boost countryside development and inclusive growth.
The EO also targets to provide adequate social services, promote full employment, industrialization, and improved quality of life in rural areas through different interventions from the national government. (PNA)
