Members of the Love Is for Everybody (LIFE) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Association of Cuenca, Batangas finished their preparatory training for their proposed casket production group enterprise. The said training was conducted from March 4-10, 2024 through the partnership of the DSWD, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Batangas, and the local government of the said town.

The LIFE SLP Association is composed of 16 members from Brgy. Dita, which was organized by the DSWD under the SLP. The group was awarded PhP 225,000 seed capital fund for the opening of their enterprise.

The SLP is a program of the DSWD that capacitates participants to engage in income-generating activities such as micro-enterprise development. Prior to the provision of seed capital fund, the participants are capacitated on relevant skills to ensure the success and sustainability of their chosen projects.

In the case of the LIFE SLPA, the DSWD and the DOST Batangas connected the association to trainers from St. Cleitus Memorial Plan based in Odiongan, Romblon, a DOST-assisted project under its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program.

Through the seven-day training, the members of the association were trained on various aspects of casket production including design, construction, and assembly as well as safety practices and business strategies.

“Sa loob ng pitong araw, nakita ko ang senseridad ng bawat isa na matuto kaya napaka-imposible na hindi kayo aasenso. Huwag kayong makampante na manatiling taga gawa lang ng kabaong, hangarin n’yo rin na magkaroon kayo ng sarili n’yong punerarya balang araw,” shared Clietus Galindez, one of the trainers.

According to Maria Fe Mendoza, the treasurer of the SLP Association, they will work hard as a group to ensure that the help of the government will not be wasted and that their association’s goal of having a sustainable business will be achieved. [with reports from LKMAmorganda/AJLibao]