Balik Probinsya program expected to roll out in Apayao

BAGUIO CITY– The Balik Probinsya Bagong Pagasa(BP2) program in the region is expected to roll out soon in the province of Apayao.
Waiting for their dispatch schedule are 11 individuals composed of two principals and nine family members.
Freda Toyoken of the National Economic and Development Authority-Cordillera (NEDA-CAR) said the National Housing Authority(NHA) provided them the list of the 11 individuals qualified under the BP2 program. These were assessed and validated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development from among the 16 total original individuals. They were further validated with the Apayao local government unit through constant follow up by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said Toyoken.
The BP2 program seeks to decongest Metro Manila areas and encourage those belonging to the low income sector and those displaced during the COVID 19 pandemic and are living in high risk areas to return to the province.
The program is a whole of government approach where agencies together with the receiving local government unit work together to address the needs of the returning residents to the countryside. NEDA-CAR serves as the BP2 program secretariat in the region.
In a radio interview, Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) OIC Regional Director Juliet Lucas said their office offers entrepreneurial programs for potential or existing micro small and medium entrepreneurs such as training programs, capacitation and exposure to entrepreneurship.
Lucas said if the dispatched beneficiaries are ready for business entrepreneurship, they are referred to DTI’s Negosyo Center. They could avail of various assistance such as product development, marketing, skills training, and financing including start up livelihood seeding programs through livelihood kits in the form of materials. They could also make use of the shared service facility in the area if their business is related to the use of the facility.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority(TESDA) Regional Director Dante Navarro shared they have apportioned scholarship programs to the beneficiaries such as agriculture course, business process outsourcing course for call centers, driving courses, wellness and spa, beauty care services, food and bars.
TESDA is the BP2 cluster head for health, employment and human resources with member agencies namely the Department of Labor and Employment, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education and Department of Health, which offer different interventions to the assessed needs of the BP2 beneficiaries, Navarro said.
NHA Acting Regional Manager for Regions 1 and CAR Engineer Maria Belinda Sevalla said their office can offer housing assistance in Pugo, La Union.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has allotted P6.28 million for the Cordillera region for food security and agriculture. **JDP/SCA-PIA-CAR, Baguio