DAVAO CITY —The suspension order issued by the Office of the President issued against Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib did not stop him from delivering his promise to provide sewing machines to a tribal group in Talaingod town.
On Tuesday, Jubahib who has been staying at the provincial capitol, requested the employees of the provincial government to distribute livelihood support to the United Tribal Clan of Melako on his behalf.
The project is under the auspices of the Governor’s KAAGAPAY program designed to provide livelihood support for the Indigenous People’s group.
In an interview with reporters on Sunday, Jubahib said “With or without the suspension order, I will continue to help the people of Davao del Norte, my commitment to serve them does not end with the suspension order which we are still contesting.”
Provincial Administrator Josie Jean Rabanos said the sewing machines had been prepared before the suspension order, The Governor said the commitment must be delivered because the equipment had been prepared even before April 11. The procurement followed the procedures and it was just the delivery which was delayed.”
The recipients from Brgy. Sto. Niňo, Talaingod, underwent livelihood training under the KADASIG Project on March 12, Rabanos added.
“The goal of this is to provide an additional livelihood to our indigenous brothers and sisters in the municipality of Talaingod, but to other IP communities in the towns of Kapalong, New Corella, and Sto. Tomas, explained Vinrad Abangin, the Environmental Management Specialist from the Provincial Administrator’s Office.
The group, according to Abangin, submitted a proposal and was approved by the Governor.
The group was trained to sew pillowcases and vegetable gardening and was on basic business and financial management.
Datu Ligasto Damloy, president of the association said “We are so grateful about the knowledge we got and the support we have from the Governor, we cannot believe that we will have new skills and knowledge. We feel so empowered,” he said in vernacular.
