THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) continues to distribute livelihood-assistance packages and conduct training to families displaced by the Marawi conflict.
In a statement on Monday, the DTI’s Regional Operations Group (ROG) said 30 families, driven from Marawi City and now living in Iligan, have received P5,000 worth of food items, considered a “starter kit” to be sold to surrounding areas.
DTI-ROG Undersecretary Zenaida G. Maglaya said aside from the training on basic entrepreneurial skills, the families will be monitored on the expansion of the starter kits.
“We will train and monitor them on the progress of their business. Once they return to Marawi, they are now equipped with the basics on entrepreneurship and at least expand the starter kits they received after earning some money,” Maglaya said.
A total of 40 grocery packages has now been distributed, apart from the 63 sewing machines and 60 sewing kits provided to internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The DTI, in partnership with the Skills Mastery Institute (SMI), also trained and retrained the IDPs on garments making.
During a discussion of a comprehensive Marawi rehabilitation budget, the DTI proposed to fellow Cabinet members to earmark P330 million for its own initiatives.
Programs the DTI is now undertaking include the provision of equipment for livelihood assistance, such as the donation of sewing machines for garment-making, cooking equipment for carinderias or eateries and mini trucks for logistic services.
The P330 million is an upgrade from the initial P10 million previously extended by the DTI, amounting to P5,000 for equipment for 2,000 recipients.
On market access, the DTI has already stated its intent to pay for rent in public markets and commercial spaces in major malls.
Part of the P330 million will also be poured into microfinancing to aid internally displaced Maranawan traders.
