PAGADIAN CITY – An SDIP or the Sustainable Development Intervention Program, an initiative of the Poverty Reduction Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC), was held last May 4-7 and 19-20, 2021 at various areas in Zamboanga Del Sur.

The issuance of the National Task Force to End Local Communist and Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) or better dubbed as Executive Order No. 70 series of 2018 or shortened as EO70, seeks to bring together various government agencies to ensure that social services are provided to communities that often encounter problems with insurgencies. PRLEC, being one of the 12 efforts of NTF-ELCAC that is being managed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), aims to develop self-reliant, resilient, productive, and sustainable communities through harmonized and culturally responsive development programs.

DSWD, being the lead agency in providing social protection services moves towards integrating and harmonizing various social welfare and development programs and services that address these problems. Among the programs and services provided are: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Protective Services Programs, and Sustainable Livelihood Program.

At Lison Valley, Pagadian City, a SDIP was hosted by TESDA last May 4-7. From DSWD present were Pagadian Provincial Cluster Therese Maravel Arcenal, SLP Special Project Focal Earl Wynn Timbang, SLP EO70 Focal Ajis Suba, and Implementing PDO Aldrich Anastacio. Other agencies include DOLE, DTI, LBP, DBP, and DA. Another SDIP was conducted at a neighboring municipality, at barangay Nuboran and Cocogan of Labangan Municipality on May 19-20.

The participating agencies various subjects relating to entrepreneurship, among these were: Entrepreneurship and Marketing by DTI, Employment by DOLE, Skills trading from TESDA, Financing from DBP and LBP, Food Production from DA, and Institutional Development by DSWD.

With DSWD being the lead agency for Institutional Development discussed about its role: to develop programs for the inclusion of marginalized sector, ensure that PRLEC programs are gender and culture sensitive, and committed to provide technical assistance.