Engr. Jay B. Laurino Governor Angelina Tan joins KAPIT-ALL-YOU beneficiaries and program partners during the livelihood and scholarship ...
Engr. Jay B. Laurino
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| Governor Angelina Tan joins KAPIT-ALL-YOU beneficiaries and program partners during the livelihood and scholarship rollout at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City on Oct. 5. (Quezon PIO) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon — Economic reintegration moved from policy to direct household support in Quezon as livelihood enterprises, scholarships and agricultural projects were rolled out for peace advocates and their families. The provincial government formally launched “KAPIT-ALL-YOU: Negosyo at Kabuhayan Para sa Lahat” on October 5 at the Quezon Convention Center.
The program converts Quezon’s peace-building commitments into economic and educational assistance intended to help beneficiaries establish more stable lives after reintegration. It operates through the province’s Peace and Development Center and Local Peace Engagement and Transformation Program with support from national agencies.
Quezon earlier secured a ₱14-million allocation for its Peace and Development Center, with ₱10 million intended for economic and educational interventions and ₱4 million for sustaining the provincial mechanism. The October rollout directs that support toward livelihood packages, scholarships, agricultural projects and capacity-building activities.
At the household level, 36 beneficiaries received livelihood packages for grocery stores, burger businesses, eateries, sewing enterprises and pares food ventures. Another 41 students who are next of kin of peace advocates are set to receive ₱20,000 in scholarship assistance every semester.
Governor Angelina "Helen" Tan said livelihood assistance is being paired with financial literacy, marketing linkages, technical guidance and product-development training. She stressed that government support must also be matched by beneficiaries who are prepared to use the opportunities provided.
“Ang oportunidad hindi nawawala. You just have to find it, and sometimes kailangan lang natin ng tamang suporta at pagkakataon para makapagsimula. Kami sa Provincial Government of Quezon, we make it available and accessible, at tutulungan namin kayong mapalago ang oportunidad na ibinibigay sa inyo,” Tan said.
Three agricultural cooperatives are also receiving projects suited to their respective production activities and livelihood opportunities. Their projects cover cassava demonstration farming, banana and cassava production, and corn and ube intercropping.
The Infanta-General Nakar Agriculture Cooperative will establish the cassava demonstration farm, while the Pagkakaisa at Kaunlaran Agriculture Cooperative will handle banana and cassava production. The Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran Agriculture Cooperative will undertake the corn and ube intercropping project.
Livestock and poultry assistance under the Provincial Veterinary Office broadens the program beyond retail, food and crop-based enterprises. Seventeen families received swine, carabao and cattle packages, while three cooperatives received 192 ready-to-lay chickens and two A-type cage units.
Entrepreneurial mind-setting, marketing strategies and financial-literacy sessions are also included to strengthen the beneficiaries’ capacity to operate their projects. Provincial offices will monitor implementation and provide technical guidance as the assistance moves into actual business and agricultural production.
Tan urged recipients to use the assistance productively and build ventures capable of improving their families’ economic position. She said successful beneficiaries could also encourage other families within their communities to pursue similar opportunities.
“Ang tagumpay po ninyo ay hindi lamang tagumpay ng inyong sariling pamilya dahil makikita rin ng ibang peace advocates na may pagkakataong magsimulang muli at magkaroon ng maayos na kabuhayan. Ito ay magiging inspiration also to other families within your community na magsikap at gamitin nang tama ang mga oportunidad na ibinibigay sa kanila,” Tan said.
Peace Program Officer Jay Nuarin, representatives of the Philippine Army’s Southern Luzon Command and personnel from the Quezon National Agricultural School joined the launch. Peace advocates and other program partners also participated in the provincial rollout.
Quezon’s Peace and Development Center coordinates reintegration and development programs involving peace advocates, their families and conflict-affected communities. KAPIT-ALL-YOU brings that strategy to households, students and cooperatives where sustainable income and education will ultimately measure its longer-term impact.
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