Belgian envoy visits projects

Philippine Consul to Belgium, Hon. Enrique Benedicto, went with Belgian Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Gregoire Vardakis to visit several Belgium-sponsored projects in Toledo City, Pinamungajan and Barili towns.

Vardakis first visited the Media Once Multi-Purpose Cooperative Savings and Credit in Toledo City.

It was implemented by DAR-7 through the Belgian Integrated Agrarian Reform Support Program which gave P200,000. This was established to help and encourage the agrarian reform beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries to save and invest. From the initial deposit of P37,000 from 40 savers, the coop now has P534,253, with 452 savers.

According to the beneficiaries, their savings and credit coop had helped them send their children to school with ease, improve their livelihood because loans with low interest are now available to them.

Other projects include the rehabilitated three-classroom building in Pinamungajan and the 25 linear-meter bridge, the tapstands and a water sanitation project in barangay Gunting in Barili. - Gregg M. Rubio