A total of 450 residents of Lian, Batangas had been identified as recipients of a skills training on masonry under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Sustainable livelihood program (SLP).

The training, which will be conducted in partnership with the St Peregrine Institute, will enable participants acquire skills that would enable them to participate in local projects that are aimed to establish facilities in response to water, sanitation, and hygiene problems in the locality. The training also includes examination which would qualify them for a TESDA national certification II (NC II), and a provision of starter kits.

During the recent Yakap Bayan Community Mobilization and Support Program outreach activity in Brgy San Diego of this municipality, DSWD Assistant Secretary Anton Hernandez awarded ten starter kits to selected participants of the said training. Dir Annie E. Mendoza of DSWD Field Office IV-A and Rey Dante, training manager of St Peregrine Institute Training assisted Asst Sec Hernandez in the awarding of the starter kits which includes hammer, hard hat, handsaw, a pair of safety shoes, a pair gloves and vest.

Macario De Los Reyes, 43, of the participants of the said training and a recipient of the starter kit distributed expressed his gratitude for the training opportunity provided to him.

“Magagamit ko po ang aking matututunan para para makatalong po ako sa paggawa ng maayos na CR dito po sa amin. Inaasahan ko rin po na makakapagtrabaho po ako sa ibang lugar na nangangailangan ng CR,” he shared.

Community reintegration of drug surrenderees

Of the 450 recipients of the skills training on masonry, 60 residents of Brgy. San Diego. Of this number, 30 are drug surrenderees and 30 are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of the DSWD.

Dir. Mendoza emphasized that providing the poor and disadvantaged families, including drug surrenderees, with opportunities to improve the skills and knowledge is important crucial as this would enable them to become productive members of their respective families and communities.

“Ang training na aming binigay sa ilalam ng SLP ay isa lamang sa mga opportunidad na binigay  DSWD para mabigyan ng suporta ang mga mahihirap, kasama ang ilang indibidwal na nagkaroon ng problema sa illegal na droga.  Hinanahamon po namin ang lahat ng kasapi sa skills training na ito na pagbutihin ito upang kayo’y magkaroon o mapalago ang inyong kabuhayan at mabago ang inyong buhay,” she shared. 

The SLP is a capability-building program of the DSWD that provides suitable income generating opportunities to identified poor, vulnerable and marginalized program participants to help improve their socio-economic well-being through micro-enterprise development or employment facilitation. It is currently being implemented in all municipalities and cities nationwide to help its program participants have an improved quality of life.#