LGU, partners explore livelihood

projects for IDPs, war evacuees

ZAMBOANGA CITY (ZNS)-The City Government and its humanitarian partners continue to explore permanent livelihood opportunities for affected families.

City Agriculturist and Livelihood Cluster head Diosdado Palacat disclosed that the local government is awaiting further development on the seaweed farming proposal submitted for possible funding.

The proposal called for an estimated budget of P21M to cover the training of beneficiaries, the purchase of necessary equipment, and the construction of required facility, including of fishing materials, gears and pump boats.

Palacat further shared that several other proposals are also being considered in the hope of providing IDPs a more permanent means of livelihood, such as the production of high value crops, to support their families.

So far, select internally displaced persons (IDPs) have undergone trainings in plumbing, carpentry, food processing and/or wellness/cosmetology as well as received starter kits that they can use to rebuild their lives.

In addition, IDPs who are members of the city’s Livestock and Poultry Raisers Association also benefited from the Office of the City Veterinarian’s (OCVet) Animal Dispersal Program after the office received four heads of female cattle and four heads of female carabao from the Department of Agriculture (DAR) Regional Field Office 9.

The distribution is part of Livelihood Cluster’s efforts to provide livelihood assistance to displaced families who are temporarily staying at evacuation centers and transitory sites. (Claudine Uniana) (091714)