The Field Office V entered into a Memorandum of Understanding between and among 13 national government agencies and the Committee on Bicol Recovery and Economic Development (CBRED) for the launching of a convergence program called “Banig at Walis Tingtingng Pamilyang Bicolnon.”

The agencies involved are; DA,ATI,FIDA,PCA,DTI,CDA,DAR,TESDA,DENR,DOST,CBRED with the DSWD as the chairperson of the Bagwis Bicol Inter-agency Committee. These agencies agreed to launch a convergence program called “Banig at Walis Tingting ng Bicolnon –BAGWIS Bicol” which aims at recognizing the need for the provision of ethical financial and non-financial services to advocate poverty reduction.

Likewise the purpose of the MOU is to provide a framework for a partnership arrangement among the partner agencies to capacitate the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program beneficiaries , Rural Women Organizations, Farmer’s Organization and other marginalized and vulnerable sector of society and empower them for a long-term livelihood opportunity using a  sustainable livelihood framework.

Director Arnel Garcia shared that Bagwis Bicol will focus more on the production of mats (banig) and hard brooms (walis tingting)It is envisioned that this project will be in full operation by 2014 .# # # #eejerusalem