To spearhead the development of self-reliant, productive, resilient, and, sustainable communities through harmonized and culturally responsive development programs, Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary for Inspectorate and Enforcement (IE) James Layug will lead the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood, and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
The PRLEC is composed of multiple line agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Development Bank of the Philippines, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Department of Agrarian Reform.
Pursuant to Executive Order No. 70, it aims to structure the implementation of a whole-of-a-nation approach to achieve inclusive and sustainable peace.
Through the office of the DA-IE, PRLEC will develop programs on agricultural productivity to ensure food security with consideration on environmental protection and sustainable development.
DA-IE has initiated projects aimed at improving the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolk across 12 provinces and 25 municipalities in the Philippines. Moreover, the office also visited 97 barangays included in the list of Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).
To better integrate DA intervention programs to transform GIDA barangays in Samar into agricultural hubs, Asec Layug has met with Governor Sharee Ann Tan and other members of the local government units of the province.
Furthermore, to address the digital divide in these remote and underserved regions, Layug vowed to implement digitalization and enhance internet connectivity so that local farmers could monitor their businesses, communicate with one another, and sell their products both in person and online.
DA has also been carrying out the implementation of similar initiatives to achieve sustained poverty reduction and boost food security under the Market Linkage Program, National Rice Program, National Corn Program, National Livestock Program, National High-Value Crops Development Program, Kadiwa Grant Program, Special Area for Agricultural Development Program, and Kabuhayan at Kaunlaran ng Kababayang Katutubo Program, among others. ### (DA-IE)
