A post-disaster project that will help victims of the series of quakes in NoCot and Davao del Sur was designed and adopted by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

MinDA chair Emmanuel Piñol said the project was aimed at helping quake victims regain their lives by taking opportunity of the reduced economic activity due to the closure of most establishments selling basic necessities.

Piñol said in partnership with Davao-based LTS Corp., which operates the NCCC chain of malls and retail stores, MinDA had conceptualized the Tienda Project, which sells basic goods at reasonable prices.

“This a post-disaster intervention project that will make quake victims self-reliant and independent from dole-outs as they rebuild their lives following the series of earthquakes,” he said.

Under the concept, earthquake victims will be organized into cooperatives, which will eventually operate the Tienda projects in each area.

“After their capability training in financial literacy and livelihood, they will be organized into associations and cooperatives, MinDA TienDA outlets will be established on the 1st quarter of 2020 in all earthquake affected areas which would be owned and managed by the victims themselves,” Piñol said.

MinDA, he said, will also seek the support of development partners in providing funds for capitalization for the operation of the MinDA Tienda outlets.

“This new advocacy that MinDA is introducing what could be the first of its kind in the history of post-disaster interventions in the country”, Pinol said adding that the MinDA TienDA outlets will serve as a manifestation of the Filipino’s resilience and spirit of self-reliance amidst disasters and calamities. (PNA)