Economic Bounce Back Programs In The Pipeline For Kalinga

July 8, 2020 JUST IN

BAGUIO CITY (July 8, 2020) – Bounce back programs for Kalinga province’s economic recovery are in the pipeline.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Kalinga said that Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can avail the Negosyo sa Serbisyo Barangay (NSB) or Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PBG) Livelihood Seeding Programs (LSP) among their economic recovery programs.  
DTI Kalinga Provincial Director Engr. Lino Cungihan explained that the coverage area of LSP-NSB are MSMEs from third to sixth class municipality with no Negosyo Center while MSMEs affected by calamities, fire, armed conflict and other disasters can avail LSP-PBG.
For the first semester of 2020, 100 livelihood kits were allotted and rolled out by DTI for the MSMEs of the province.   “Sari-sari” store business topped the list of its distribution per sector, handicraft making coming in second and food processing setting at third in the list.
For the second semester, 95 livelihood kits were allotted for LSP-NSB and 174 kits were allotted for LSP-PBG.
DTI also introduced a special program called COVID-19 Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES) wherein a total amount of P3,303,000 loan was approved for the province that will cater 41 MSMEs. As of July 7, 2020, an amount of P645,000 loan has been released for six MSMEs.
On the Roads Leveraging Linkages of Industry and Trade (ROLL IT) convergence program of DTI, 12 projects were approved for funding for 2020 amounting to P197,960.
While Department of Information and Technology (DICT) Kalinga Provincial Officer Mona Lisa Vizcarra said there is an ongoing “Free Wi-Fi for All Program” in Kalinga identifying Kalinga Provincial Hospital, Kalinga State University Bulanao and Dagupan campuses, DICT Kalinga Provincial Office, and Provincial Capitol of Kalinga as the managed internet service beneficiary sites of the Free Wi-Fi for All Program.
Moreover, Pasil, Rizal and Lubuagan were also cited as the towns that have the capacity for the program. 
To date, Tabuk City has two active live spots installed at the City Health Office and at the Agbannawag Evacuation Center.
The Free Wi-Fi for All Program began in 2015 under the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and, upon its establishment in June 2016, the  DICT. Republic Act No. 10929 or the “Free Internet Access in Public Places Act” was signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on 02 August 2017.
 
Kalinga Governor Ferdinand Tubban assured the DICT of the Provincial Government’s support to the program and suggested to allot supplemental budget for the improvement of internet connectivity in the province as it is very crucial in today’s situation.
 
Dexy Catacutan of the Provincial Science and Technology Center  (PSTC) Kalinga announced their services can be availed virtually or online.
Among the programs are the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) wherein a total amount of P7,573,560.50 with 24% higher than the amount utilized for 2018, was availed by eight (8) micro small medium enterprises (MSMEs) belonging to three (3) sectors in 2019; Local Grants-In-Aid (LGIA) wherein nine (9) LGIA projects were approved in 2019 with a cost amounting to P3,257,545.95; DOST-CAR also provides designs of product packaging and labeling materials for MSMEs; and Technology trainings are conducted based on the needs of the MSMEs on arranged schedules.
Artemio A. Dumlao