DAVAO DEL NORTE, Mar. 4 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government of Davao Del Norte pioneered the implementation of the national government's program dubbed as "Balik Probinsya-Bagong Pag-asa (BP2P) Program" to facilitate its residents who would like to return to the province amidst the pandemic.
During the recent episode of Kapihan sa Davnor, Engr. Hazel Zafra, Assistant Provincial Administrator for Operations and a member of the Technical Working Group of DavNor's BP2P, explained the program rationale.
"Ang Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-asa Program or atong gishorten nga BP2P (shortened as BP2P) is a national government program implemented at the local government unit. So ang tumong niani (Its goal) is to decongest the urban areas of the national capital region ilabi na gyud didto sa Metro Manila (especially in Metro Manila)," Zafra explained.
"So adunay 20 kabook national government agencies nga member nianing BP2P in which sila ang main nga muhatag ug assistance sa mga eligible benefiaries nga muabot sa probinsya," (There are 20 national government agencies (NGAs) listed as members of the BP2P who will provide assistance to the eligible beneficiaries to return to the provinces), she added.
Meanwhile, Nelson Plata, the Department Head of Provincial Planning and Development Office, and the Head of the BP2P Technical Working Group in the province explained why the Provincial Government of Davao Del Norte accepted the challenge in pioneering the program.
"Aside from the decongestion of the urban areas, nakita ni Kuya Gob nga tungod adunay daghan mga national government agencies nga andam mutabang sa beneficiaries sa BP2P, adunay rural countryside development nga dala aning maong programa," (Aside from the decongestion of the urban areas, Provincial Governor Edwin I. Jubahib saw that NGAs are ready to help the BP2P beneficiaries which imply development in the rural areas and countryside), Plata's statement reads.
"Aduna palang tay batch 1 sa mga beneficiaries in which atoa gyud na nga gibalik-balik ug validate. We have 6 families. One of that six is single or traveling alone. Ang total ani is 19 individuals," (We only have one batch of beneficiaries yet after careful validation. We have 6 families where one of that is single and is traveling alone. We have 19 individuals in total) Zafra stated the beneficiaries.
She also mentioned the assistance given to the beneficiaries from various NGAs.
As of the record, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gave a total of P584,150, P1M from the Department of Trade and Industry poured to the KAAGAPAY Program of the province for a sustainable livelihood for the beneficiaries.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) immediately listed the beneficiaries for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating mga Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program with P6,000 each family. Another P30,000 was given to each family as a start-up livelihood program.
The National Housing Authority (NHA) also distributed computer gadgets and tablets, while the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) offered scholarships.
Also, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources provided fruit trees seedlings to the beneficiaries, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provided training on organic chicken raising. (PIA XI DavNor/jmda/Ezri M. Coda Jr.)
