Coop members get livelihood project in Camarines Norte

By Connie Calipay

STA ELENA, Camarines Norte --- At least 53 member-beneficiaries of the Mount Cadig Development Association, Inc. (MCDAI) in the municipality of Sta. Elena in the province of Camarines Norte have received support from the Department of Labor and Employment in Bicol (DOLE-5) livelihood program to start up their bread production.

Johana Vi Gasga, DOLE -5 information officer, in an interview on Wednesday, said the agency, as part of its mission to uplift the lives of workers in the marginalized sector, has partnered with Camarines Norte State College (CNSC) Research and Extension Office to provide livelihood and employment opportunities.

“The DOLE Cam Norte and CNSC awarded tools, equipment, and raw materials to MCDAI members recently for their bread production,” Gasga said, adding the livelihood assistance is worth PHP352,850.

Cyre Cabredo, DOLE Camarines Norte chief, congratulated the members of the association who were luckily identified as eligible recipients of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) in the province.

“Mapalad po kayo na isa ang inyong asosasyon sa mga nabigyan ng ganitong proyekto ng pamahalaan. Paka-ingatan po natin ito at pagbutihan nyo po ang pamamalakad ng inyong negosyo dahil makakatulong po ito hindi lamang sa inyo kundi sa inyo pong mga pamilya. Hangad po namin ang paglago ng inyong negosyo para mas makatulong pa tayo sa iba pang miyembro at sa ating komunidad (You are lucky that your association is one of those that have been given this kind of project by the government. Please take care of this and improve the management of your business because it will not only help you but your families as well. We wish for your business to prosper so that we can help other members and our community even more),” Cabredo said.

Antonio Compas, MCDAI vice-president, acknowledges the efforts of DOLE and CNSC in making their proposed project turn into reality. On behalf of all the members of the association, he committed to handle the project well and assured that their members are willing to undergo capability training to sustain their operations once started.

The bread production project of MCDAI is one of the three identified group-undertaking projects of DOLE Camarines Norte to be implemented in partnership with CNSC before the end of this year. (PNA)