By Junex Doronio
MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has expanded its Sustainable Livelihood Program to the island province of Batanes.
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Specialized Programs under Operations Group (OG) Florentino Loyola Jr. and Field Office-2 (Cagayan Valley) Regional Director Lucia Suyu-Alan led a team to Batanes on July 17 and 18 to deliver various programs and interventions for the people of the island province.
Loyola and the DSWD team first went to the municipality of Basco to distribute a Seed Capital Fund (SCF) worth more than Php2.2 million to 152 beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
“Sa ngalan ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian kami po ay nagagalak na nasaksihan ang aktibidad na ito. Gusto kong bigyang-diin sa araw na ito na hindi lamang ito pamamahagi ng dagdag puhunan, bagkus ito ay pagpapalakas ng inyong mga kapasidad tungo sa kapaki-pakinabang na negosyo,” Loyola told the SLP beneficiaries during the ceremonial turnover on Wednesday, July 17.
The beneficiaries received Php15,000 each to start their chosen livelihood or enterprise.
In a related activity, the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), under the National Community-Driven Development – Additional Financing (NCDDP-AF) modality, turned over on Thursday, July 18, 10 sub-projects implemented during the first and second phases of the program in the municipality of Itbayat.
Loyola congratulated the KALAHI-CIDSS beneficiaries for completing their community projects.
“Malaking bagay na kayo mismo sa komunidad ang pumipili sa mga proyekto na pupuno sa kakulangan sa inyong lugar. Ang programang KALAHI-CIDSS ay nagmumula sa inyo,” the DSWD official told the KALAHI-CIDSS beneficiaries.
The sub-projects were funded by the KALAHI-CIDSS with a total grant allocation amounting to Php7.5 million, supplemented by a municipal local counterpart contribution amounting to Php1.8 million.
Aside from the KALAHI-CIDSS sub-projects, the DSWD official also oversaw the payout of social pension for indigent senior citizens in the town.
Loyola and Regional Director Suyu-Alan also held a consultation dialogue at the Batanes Provincial Capitol to discuss ways to further strengthen the implementation of social protection programs and services for the residents of Batanes.
Present at the meeting were Governor Marilou Cayco, Vice Governor Ignacio Villa, Basco Municipal Mayor German Caccam, Mahatao Municipal Mayor Pedro Poncio, Ivana Municipal Mayor Celso Batallones, and Uyunga Municipal Vice Mayor Argel Hortiz, representing Mayor Jonathan Enrique Nanud Jr.
(el Amigo/mnm)
