The Amerindian Village of Quiko in Region Nine says it has witnessed a significant transformation in the delivery of essential services and a councillor has credited the government for this.
The village’s senior councillor, Ronald Ignatius spoke during a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI.
Ignatius told the DPI that residents are now benefitting from available services in education, health, agriculture, and other necessities. He himself has been advocating for establishing a primary school in Quiko for years, and that request has since been fulfilled.
He noted that this new development benefits students greatly, as they no longer are required to walk long distances to access education.
Meanwhile, in the health sector, residents are enjoying reliable services with the construction of a new $14 million health centre, which opened its doors in 2023.
“Presently, that is serving a very great purpose in there and we’re happy about those facilities being constructed in my community,” Ignatius said.
According to the release, with $18 million in carbon credit funding, Quiko has undertaken several projects, targeting youths and farmers. These include a four-acre cash crop farm that will catapult the village towards achieving food security and financial stability.
Crops such as sweet peppers, bora, eschallot, and watermelon, are being cultivated on the savannah farm.
However, while income generation is an important factor in the project, creating employment opportunities for residents is another crucial element.
Additionally, a Youth Documentation Centre was established to provide educational materials and resources to school-aged children.
The village is also receiving financial support through the Presidential Grants (PGs) and the COVID-19 Economic Investment Fund. With these funds, the village was able to establish a $2 million sewing centre and catering kitchen, that will allow women to benefit from the ‘Because We Care grants’