TULUNAN, Cotabato, Mar. 3 (PIA) - At least 26 vulnerable workers in Barangay Banayal, Tulunan received a total of P646,516 livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) XII during the Retooled Community Support Program Serbisyo Caravan last week.

Barangay Banayal is one of the 62 barangays in Region 12 included in the Local Government Support Fund-Support for Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

DOLE XII Regional Director Raymundo Agravante, DOLE North Cotabato Field Office Head Marjorie Latoja, and Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco led the hand-over of assistance to the beneficiaries who have chosen to engage in different livelihood projects such as balut and barbecue vending, welding, car wash and others.

During the serbisyo caravan, DOLE XII also conferred a Certificate of Registration to Banayal Persons with Disability Association which entitles the workers' group a legal personality and the right to avail of livelihood assistance from the Department.

DOLE XII also gave Certificates of Good Standing to Banayal Farmers' Association and Banayal Peace and Development Farmers Volunteers' Association.

In his message, Director Agravante lauded the Provincial Government of Cotabato and Municipal Government of Tulunan for their unwavering help to national agencies, Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in realizing the efforts of RTF-ELCAC in eliminating local armed conflict in the region.

"The Department is true to its commitment and one with ELCAC in helping our communities foster lasting peace by providing livelihood opportunities and bringing our flagship programs and services closer to the farthest citizens of SOCCSKSARGEN," added RD Agravante. (CGamboa-DOLE XII)