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| The Kawiyagan 2022: Trade, Techno and Job Fair, a livelihood program, is eyed for sustainability. For this year, residents of Marawi City are seen to have positively responded to the event as they come to avail of offered services. (PIA-Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur--The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) and the local government here both conveyed their intent to have a sustainable Kawiyagan or livelihood fair for the locals of the city.
TFBM Field Office Manager Asec. Felix Castro Jr. said they are striving for the continuance of this program seeing how the residents, especially the internally displaced persons (IDPs), manifested interest in the offered services and products.
“Titingnan natin kung kaya monthly. Ang nakikita natin na malaking part ay trade fair plus job fair. Ang Kawiyagan will not just be simply for distribution [of aid] but kung pwede, sa trade at job fairs. Tinitingnan natin kung masustain iyon. Hopefully, kung kaya pa till June,” he said.
[We will see if this can be done monthly. What we find is that the trade fair plus job fair have a big part. The Kawiyagan will not just be simply for distribution [of aid] but if possible, for trade and job fairs. We will see if we can sustain this. Hopefully, we can have it till June.]
Castro said that while other government agencies and non-government organizations are already over with the implementation of their respective projects and programs in relation to the rehabilitation of the city, they are looking at existing partners with livelihood components to be involved in the succeeding Kawiyagan.
Mayor Majul Gandamra likewise conveyed that the city government is intending to preserve the program and spearhead it anew, maintaining that this is important in responding to the loss of livelihood of his constituents in the future as brought about by unavoidable scenarios.
“Gusto natin na magkaroon tayo ng sustainable livelihood program dahil alam natin, hindi lang iyong nangyaring siege sa Marawi at itong pandemic, ay maaaring sa hinaharap natin ay mayroon tayong ibang challenges. Kailangan natin magkaroon ng konkretong programa para nang sa ganoon ang ating mga kababayan ay hindi masyadong maghirap,” he said.
[We want to have a sustainable livelihood program because we know, not just the siege that happened in Marawi and this pandemic, there can be different challenges in the future. We need to have a concrete program so that our fellow men will not really suffer.]
Previously, Kawiyagan was spearheaded monthly since 2018 but was paused in 2020 with the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 crisis.
This year, it is conducted anew for two days, from January 26 to January 27. Among the offered services were trade, techno and job fairs, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and government internship program enrollment, Business One-Stop Shop, orientation on civil documentation, free haircut, manicure and pedicure, and science and technology promotion.
With the positive outcome of the first day of the fair, Castro expressed his thanks to the involved agencies and organizations for their support with their installation of their booths displaying their services and products, and to the residents who came to avail of the offered program. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
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