DTI vows to keep on giving livelihood aid to SAF 44 kin

MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry has committed to continue providing assistance to the bereaved families of the 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) commandos who died during an encounter with rebel troops in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, in 2015.

In a statement, Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya said the assistance being offered by the agency has been in terms of setting up a livelihood enterprise, which would serve as an alternative source of income for the families.

“We assure that the commitment of assistance to the families of the SAF 44 by the Department has been provided and will continue. Majority of the families signified interest in starting livelihood enterprises, thus, project proposals have been prepared by the DSWD and endorsed to DTI for validation. These proposals were submitted to the Presidential Management Staff for approval and funding,” Maglaya explained.

Maglaya however clarified that the DTI has not provided financial assistance but has been training SAF 44 kin on how to put up their businesses and grow them, and on how to manage their finances. More specifically, the DTI’s assistance included the provision of seminars, and consultancy services through the Small and Medium Enterprise Roving Academy (SMERA); as well as the facilitation of business name registrations and permits. Some family members of the SAF 44 were also employed with government agencies in their respective provinces.

“Our help is more on counseling. We’ll help them in putting up their business and we also provide technical assistance and follow up training programs. The Department also helps in packaging business proposals,” Maglaya added.

The trade official also urged the families to consult the Go Negosyo Centers in their respective provinces, which also provide the same assistance. The families, upon asking for assistance from DTI, will be automatically tied with the DTI and will be part of its client base.

Maglaya noted that after news broke out on the untimely demise of the SAF 44, the DTI, through its regional and provincial offices, immediately sought the families of the police troopers and asked them how the DTI could help.

“Through our provincial offices, we asked them what their needs are and helped them assess what’s the best business for them. That’s where we come in,” she added.  SFM