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| The Islamic Relief Worldwide Philippines in partnership with the Bangsamoro region's Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT) conducts financial management training for the second batch of beneficiaries in Ditsaan-Ramain town in Lanao del Sur province. (Jason Casa/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur) |
MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The international non-government organization Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW)-Philippines is continuously implementing efforts under the Sustaining Transformative and Resilient Initiative for Vulnerable Communities (STRIVEC) in Ranao Philippines Program with funds from the IRW-Canada to secure the livelihood of at least 600 locals in the municipality of Ditsaan-Ramain, this province.
IRW-Philippines Area Programme Manager Sittie Jamairah Disomimba shared that this is part of their assistance for the victims of the Marawi siege and was pushed through in coordination with the Task Force Bangon Marawi which helped them identify the town as one of the localities hosting many IDPs.
To commence its initiative, the organization closely collaborated with the Bangsamoro region’s Ministry of Trade, Investment and Tourism (MTIT) to spearhead a financial management training wherein the first two batches with 100 participants each set have already undergone the learning sessions while 400 more residents are bound to follow.
Disomimba said the training was conceptualized to equip the beneficiaries with knowledge and skills in handling their finances as each group of ten recipients will be given a P50,000 cash grant that will serve as their start-up capital for their proposed businesses.
Apart from this, the necessary equipment will also be provided as identified through consolidation of data and assessment.
Disomimba said after the financial management training, their beneficiaries will also undergo other skills training to further hone them as they will all establish businesses according to their respective skills.
She added that the cash grants will be released within July through a remittance center even before the next training commences or during its conduct, as the only prerequisite to receiving the cash grant is to have first the financial management training.
With their program eagerly pursuing its goal, Disomimba underlined that her organization does not extend assistance through the usual flow wherein they will just give away aid and then eventually leave their beneficiaries after.
She said they aim to look at the whole picture and process by conducting first significant training before providing monetary help.
Disomimba stated that after releasing the cash grant and conducting all the training, businesses of their beneficiaries will be linked to the government so that their products may be marketed well.
“Our strategy is always to work with the government. Ililink namin sila [We will link them] with the proper line agencies para pag-alis namin [so that when we depart], someone is gonna take care of them,” she said.
Meanwhile, Disomimba conveyed her happiness to have observed that the beneficiaries see her organization as really extending genuine help.
“Before, gusto nila na makuha agad ang pera at sila na ang bahala. Now, they realized na we are willing to help them. Ang kanilang problema ay hindi kanila lang. Apart from the cash grant, tutulungan namin sila sa skills, product at market development. Sa process na ito, medyo matagal siya pero naiinternalize nila at naiensure nila, eventually magiging successful ang program na ito,” she said.
[Before, they want to immediately get the money and everything is up to them already. Now, they realized that we are willing to help them. Their problem is not just theirs. Apart from the cash grant, we will help them with the skills, product and market development. This process will be somehow long but they can internalize and ensure that eventually, this program will be successful.] (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Sur)
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