Cagayan de Oro City – Northern Mindanao has recently gained two nominations for the Bangon Kabuhayan 2015, a competition by the Department of Social Welfare and Development that provides highlights of the good practices and success stories of beneficiaries or group of beneficiaries of every region particularly those with micro-enterprise models and other services, established through the support of DSWDs Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). The winning entries shall serve as SLP benchmark for possible replication in other areas with similar contexts.

One of the two entries of region 10 is the Virgin Coconut Oil Production of Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte by the Poona Piagapo Parent Leaders Association. Established in 2014, through the collaborative support of the department, the LGU and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The product has also been recently nominated as one of the DTI’s most innovative product and currently the One-Town One-Product (OTOP) of the municipality.

On the other hand, the beneficiaries who are graduates of Massage Therapy NC II from Medina, Misamis Oriental, is the region’s entry in the employment facilitation category, since most of them earned jobs in the local resorts after graduation. Also, they have establish their very own Spa Clinic through the support of the LGU and the Skills Mastery Institute.

The criteria considered for selection include innovation, impact, economic viability and sustainability. All entries shall undergo validation process by the national office and the winners shall be presented during the national PaskuJuan 2015 on November.

Written by Jamila M. Taha, DSWD