Members of the Brownleaf Farmers’ Association of Rosario, La Union, Incorporated (BFARLU, Inc.), an NTA-assisted tobacco farmers’ association, received one 4-wheel tractor with rotary tillers and three hand tractors with trailers from the local government of Rosario, La Union, through the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Integrated Livelihood Emergency Employment Program-Kabuhayan (DILEEP-Kabuhayan).
Said release was made possible through the assistance of NTA La Union and the municipal Public Employment Service Office (PESO.Cristilita O. Mamungay, BFARLU acting president, received the tractors from Mayor Bellarmin A. Flores II and DOLE Regional Director Atty. Evelyn R. Ramos during turnover ceremony on September 1 at the Rosario Municipal Covered Court.
Also in attendance were Veronica A. Corsino, DOLE La Union Field Office Head; Engr. Juanito M. Quinto Jr, MPDC of Rosario; staff from NTA La Union; officers and members of BFARLU, Inc and two other Rosario-based associations, BUED CIS DAM IRRIGATORS Service Association, Inc., and Inabaan Sur Planters-Irrigators Association, both recipients of similar farm machineries.
DILEEP-Kabuhayan, as a flagship program of the DOLE, provides grant assistance for capacity-building on livelihood and entrepreneurial ventures for vulnerable and marginalized workers through their associations, cooperatives, and other accredited co-partners.
[Text/photos: Kristin Mae G. Castañeda]