LGU Manolo Fortich hosts 1st Livelihood Summit

LGU Manolo Fortich continue to serve its people through innovative programs.

The Local Government of Manolo Fortich hosted its first ever two-day Municipal Livelihood Summit held at the Manolo Fortich Gymnasium last October 10-11, 2022 with the theme “Kapobrehon Atong Tulobagon, Solusyon Atong Hiusahon.” This was the first ever summit held not just in the municipality but also in the entire province of Bukidnon.

Vice Governor Clive D. Quiño stressed the distinctiveness of the activity among other events in his speech. "Daghan na mga lugar sa nasud ang akong naadtuan ubos sa katuyuan nga makakat-on og kahibalo sa Best Local Governance practices sa ubang dapit apan wala pa ko sukad makahinagbo og susama niini nga kalihukan karon nga gipasiudagahn sa usa ka local government unit nga mao ang Livelihood Summit. Karon pa lang ko sukad nga adunay susama niini nga summit o panagtigum nga adunay kongkretong mga pamaagi o suhistyon arun sa pag-asdang sa kapobrehon dinhi sa lalawigan sa Bukidnon." (“I have been to other places in the country to search for ways to learn the Best Local Governance practices but I have never encountered anything like this event pioneered by the local government unit which is the Livelihood Summit. It just only now that I have learned that this is possible, that there is this congregation with concrete ways and suggestion to alleviate poverty here in the province of Bukidnon.)

Taking from its theme, the ultimate purpose of the said summit is to reduce poverty by moving vulnerable households into sustainable livelihoods toward economic stability. As of the 2021 Community-based Monitoring System, there are about 5,000 households belonging to the extreme poverty. This program is part of the 10-point socio-economic agenda of Mayor Rogelio N. Quiño’s administration. “Ang tumong ug tinguha ani niya mao ang paghatag ug edukasyon sa atong mga kaigsoonan nga para makit-an nila kung unsa ang usa ka Livelihood Summit. Nga matudluan nato ang mga pobre nga katawhan labi natong mga nanginahanglan jud nga muasenso nga tungod jud sa mga programang atong gipahigayon. So, hinaot nga katong mga pamaagi ilang mapanalanginan ug ma-apply nila sa ilang panginabuhian aron sad muangat ilang panginabuhian. Nga mahimong malampuson atong administrasyon nga naay niangat nga panginabuhian.” (The goal and purpose of this is to provide education to our fellowmen in order for them to see and experience what a Livelihood Summit is. To teach the less fortunate most especially those who are really in need to prosper because of the programs that we implement. So, I hope that in those ways, they can reflect and apply it in their lives in order to thrive in their livelihood; that this administration will succeed with people leveling up their subsistence.)

This summit was earnestly supported by the different public and private sectors which includes the different departments of the Local Government Unit, stakeholders, financial institution, and government agency who served as panelists during the plenary session to give advices to the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, poorer farmers, and individual local artists and craftsmen. Through this, the LGU of Manolo Fortich can identify regular best practices to guide the existing and future livelihood projects.

There were a plethora of events laid by the Municipal Planning and Development Office for this event in order to give opportunity to local businessmen to showcase their products and to inculcate mass awareness regarding livelihood, business management and financial literacy. The rosters of events are as follows:

Seminars/ Orientation on How to start Business/How to get registered/ Branding Marketing/ Basic Computer Literacy
Roundtable Discussions
Skills Trainings
Grants and Financing Options
Exhibits of Local Foods, Arts, Crafts Etc.
Success story of local businessmen/cooperatives in the locality
Raffle Draw
Keynote Speech on Different Livelihood/Business Topics
Plenary Sessions with Q and A

The Municipal Mayor, Rogelio N.Quiño was one of the successful businessman featured during the summit along with Mr. Ben John Mahistrado of Alomah’s Place Nature and Farm, Marilou Inihao of Loulen’s Bakeshop, Rudy Calva of CGas, Johanns Tadeo of Manokitos, Mantibugao Farmers’ Cooperative, and Eddie Sayongan aka Sayote King of Kalugmanan. These successful businessmen shared their stories to inspire the Manoleños.

The Keynote Speakers of the summit were Aldon Honor Apa-ap who discussed about Financial Literacy, Jose Feron "Dodong" Cacanando in Entrepreneurial Mind-Setting and Perfecto B. Rom Jr. on Urban Container Gardening. Their talks were positively enjoyed by the audience who took liberty of learning from the one of the successful businessmen in the locality. Simultaneously, the bazaar and the booth exhibits were also given the chance to display and sell their products. Some of the booth exhibitors such as the Little Maldita and Mirabueno Coffee Farm even provided free taste for their products such as home-made icecream and brewed coffee. The six-day bazaar, on the other hand, offered free rent of the Food Park facility to boost the earnings of the local participants.

Moreover, the most awaited part by the majority was the announcement of major and minor prizes of the raffle draw in between activities. Minor prizes included rice packs, gift packs and agricultural products for the lucky winners. There were about sixty-four minor prizes winners in the raffle draw. The three major prize winners received one full-grown cattle each. The winners are as follows.

Major Prize Winners
Name	Barangay
Domingo, Gemma	San Miguel
Cabarles, Virginia	Sankanan
Moncado, Esterlina	Maluko

The summit was also graced by the Provincial Governor Rogelio Neil Roque, Provincial Vice Governor Clive Quiño and Congressman of the 1^st District Jose Manuel Albaa who gave their messages during the two-day event. Congressman Alba even sponsored a set of minor prizes for the participants of the LGU Livelihood Summit. He provided ten piglets for the raffle winners. The lucky recipients of the piglets are as follows:

LGU Livelihood Summit Piglet Winner
Name	Barangay
Beduro, Trisha Ann	Dicklum
Sebusa, Pat	Alae
Braña, Alma	Agusan Canyon
Pagayao, Madelyn	Dalirig
Rapas, Arlisa	Lindaban
Baretista, Emelita	Damilag
Opiso, Amado	Damilag
Ucab, Rosemarie	Mambatangan
Letchejan, Roberta	Dalirig
Sabanpan, Geraldine	Mambatangan

The success of the event was a collaboration of the following sponsors: CJ Philippines, M. Montesclaros Farms, Inc., Bounty Fresh, SLERS, JBC Food Corporation, Peak Power, Bukidnon Community Cooperative (BCC), General Services Multipurpose Cooperative (GSMC), DMPI Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, TM, Seven-Eleven, Anakciano Inc., Kumaykay River Farm, 1^st Valley Bank, Pine Cooperative, Bukidnon Government Employees Multi-purpose Cooperative (BUGEMCO), BUSECO, CRB Steel Industrial Sales, Inc. Prince Hyper Mart, Aboitiz Power, Del Monte Philippines, Dahilayan Adventure Park, Dunkin Donuts, Republic Biscuit Cooperative (Rebisco), RN Quiño Enterprises, SMDC, RMCC and Congressman Joeman Alba. The summit commenced with a live-band concert by the 52^nd Brigade, Philippine Army.