Twelve organized associations of women in Rizal town, Laguna Province received capital assistance worth PhP1.03 Million for their livelihood enterprises. This is through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The checks were awarded to the associations last August 10, 2015 after the organizations, composed of 109 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, finished various skills training on micro-enterprise development.

Each of the beneficiaries receive PhP5,000 to PhP10,000 capital assistance depending on their proposed enterprises. Common businesses to be started by these beneficiaries include trade and commerce, crops and food processing and livestock raising.

During the awarding ceremony, DSWD Regional Director Leticia T. Diokno encouraged the beneficiaries to work hard on their businesses so they’ll soon have a stable source of income for their family.

“Ang mga kikitain ni’yo rito ay maaari ninyong ipunin para sa edukasyon ng inyong mga anak. Kapag sila ay nakapag-aral, mataas ang posibilidad na makakuha sila ng maayos na trabaho at makatulong sa inyong pamilya na makaangat sa buhay,” said Dir. Diokno in her message to the beneficiaries.

Bernabe Evangelista, a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary who is one of the recipients of the said livelihood assistance, expressed her gratitude for the SLP.

“Malaking tulong po sa amin ito dahil may pag-uumpisahan na kaming hanapbuhay. Kahit mawala na ang suportang natatanggap namin sa Pantawid, matutugunan na namin ang mga pangangailangan ng aming pamilya dahil sa mga pagkakakitaan na ito,” said Evangelista.

Aside from these 12 associations, there are also other 13 organized groups in Laguna Province that are provided with livelihood assistance amounting to PhP1.2 Million last June.

The SLP is a community-based capacity building program of the DSWD that seeks to improve the socio-economic status of its beneficiaries. It prioritizes beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program as part of the convergence efforts of the Department to lead poor families towards an improved level of wellbeing and later on towards self-sufficiency.# with reports from JOCuya