Ilongot, Igorot, Aeta, and Kankanai—Indigenous People (IPs) of Aurora received a check amounting to Php20,000 each as capital assistance for the Livestock business, last March 3, 2016 at Dipaculao (62 recipients) and Ma. Aurora (81 recipients).

The capital assistance came from the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer (MCCT) funds, in partnership with Sustainable Livelihood (SLP) program. The fund will be divided into the budget for three (3) piglets, training for livestock dispersal, and feeds for the domestic livestock. Every after three months, the harvest season, 50% of the beneficiary’s earnings will be used to buy additional domestic livestock while the other 50% will be put in their savings account.

“Malaking bagay ito. Nagpapasalamat ako sa MCCT dahil nadagdagan ang aming pagkakakitaan bukod sa Gardening. Malaking kaluwagan ito, maiaangat ko na ang pamumuhay namin (Thing is a big thing. I am in gratitude of the MCCT for we had another source of income, aside from gardening. This is a great help, I can eventually uplift our life),” said Fidel Viernes, 49, MCCT grantee. He also said that he will further develop his piggery, and then eventually work on goat-raising, as well.

MCCT is a special program intended to provide IP communities in Geographical Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) with equal opportunity to access the basic services and benefits of Pantawid.
“Dahil parang napag-iiwanan ang IPs, kaya inilunsad ang MCCT. Kung paano pa mas mapapaunlad ang buhay nila kaya naman mayroong ganitong mga support service—assistance capital (Since it seems that IPs are being left behind, that is why MCCT was born. To further uplift their well-being, support service—capital assistance, are there),” said Ms. Rea Lynn Cabiling, MCCT Focal Person.

“Nagpapasalamat ako ng marami sa ginagawang pagpapaunlad ng aming buhay nang kami ay maiangat. Kung dati ay bilang nanay, ang iintindi ko lang ay basta mapakain ko lang ang aking mga anak. Ngayon, mas nakilala ko ang aking mga karapatan bilang nanay, pati na rin ang karapatanng aking mga anak (I am very thankful of the uplifting strategy that they are doing to elevate our lives. Before, as a mother, what I only think of is to fill my children’s stomach. Now, I have known my rights, and my children’s rights, better),”said Virginia Agustin, 49, an MCCT grantee. ### (Andyleen C. Feje)