DOLE-NCIP Setting-up for IP Community Enterprises through Project Epanaw!

LOOK: Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 3 Director Geraldine Panlilio receives from NCIP Region 3 Director Atty. Roland Calde a copy of the Project Epanaw Coffee Table Books 1,2, and 3, during an official visit to the former’s office last April 20, 2021.
Director Panlilio was amazed to see the diversity of Philippine cultures, especially in Central Luzon. She recalls the many opportunities the department had serving the ICCs/IPs in the region but added that knowing their culture this close is a huge leap for DOLE to fully understand the need to support them in their pursuit for human and socio-economic development.
NCIP R3 through Director Calde expressed its deepest gratitude for the unwavering support of DOLE Region 3 contributing to the realization of the vision for total community development in more than 50 Ancestral Domains in the region. He said that Project Epanaw is a testament to the ICCs/IPs resiliency partly because of government support.
In 2016, DOLE R3 and NCIP Region 3 started the “Social Enterprise and Employment Development through DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program” (SEED-DILEEP) aimed at providing financial assistance to select IPs across the region at Php 10,000.00 per capita. Since then, a total of Php 3,290,000.00 was provided to 390 IP entrepreneurs to boost their chosen livelihood activity.
This year, the two agencies agreed to enhance the SEED-DILEEP and to strengthen even more the partnership with ICCs/IPs through other convergence projects through IP CREATESS IADDA. The meeting ended on a high note of gratitude and mutual respect for both institutions, and respect for the Indigenous Peoples Agenda embodied by Project Epanaw.
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BALIK-TANAW (Third Photo): DOLE R3 Senior Labor and Employment Officer Mr. Ferdinand Capati poses with NCIP R3 officers and the Ayta Ambala partners during the SEED-DILEEP awarding in Dinalupihan in 2017.