DAVAO DEL NORTE, July 21 (PIA) - Various skills training and livelihood programs are set to be launched and conducted for the Indigenous Peoples (IP) and Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) communities in Davao Oriental and in Davao del Norte tomorrow, July 22, 2020.

This is as part of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment cluster (PRLEC) XI convergence program launching of the Regional Task force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Region XI that has begun on July 20 and will end on July 24.

Joined by the National PRLEC Chair, Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Isidro S. Lapena, the Regional Task Force will travel from Davao City to Davao Oriental in the morning where "OPLAN MARAGATAS" is to be launched aiming to serve 100 beneficiaries.

A mini organic farm is set to be established through various training cum production qualifications for Indigenous People of Barangay Maragatas, Lupon, Davao Oriental. As well, Product Development and commercialization of Bais Wine will be launched.

Barangay Maragatas is Top 1 of the 31 EO 70/EO 13 Priority Barangays identified as it has been the native ground for New People's Army (NPA) for several decades.

Then right after, the task force will move on to the City of Mati for the ongoing skills training of 21 former rebels on organic production NC II.

In the afternoon, the task force will travel back to Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

From there, they will proceed to Freedom Residences in Coambogan, to launch the skills training programs on mushroom processing, meat processing, and vegetable processing to 34 beneficiaries formerly connected with NPA and some underground mass organizations (UGMO), all of whom belong to the first group of former rebels who surrendered to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

They had previously received construction skills training at the Happy Home in Mati before being turned over to Tagum LGU in 2019 where they were provided with housing at Freedom Residences.

The whole-day affair tomorrow aims for the beneficiaries to possess skills for potential communal livelihood activities in raising mushroom and food processing.

On July 24, they are scheduled for Davao City, and Davao Occidental on July 25.

The activity is facilitated collaboratively by TESDA XI Regional/Provincial Offices, TESDA Technology Institutions (TTIs), Barangay/Local and Provincial Government Office Executives and the Poverty Reduction Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) XI Member Agencies. (Jan Vincent Leuterio, PIA-XI)