Nineteen beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Calatagan, Batangas Province recently completed a basic sewing training including a startup sewing machine under the Grassroot Livelihood Project of the E. Zobel Foundation.

The said livelihood project is a public-private partnership project of the said Foundation and other agencies and organizations including the Department of Social Welfare and Development IV-A, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Kabisig ng Kalahi and Accenture Philippines.

The beneficiaries, 18 are mothers, underwent a 20-day skills training on basic sewing from the Enrique Zobel Technical Training Center.

Ms. Dee Zobel, chairperson of the E. Zobel Foundation, shared that the new skills acquired by the beneficiaries can be used for their livelihood. She announced that this new set of skills must be matched with sewing equipment that the beneficiaries can use to start earning.

Through the E. Zobel Foundation’s soft loan service, the beneficiaries were provided with brand new sewing machines that will be paid for 18 months at zero interest rate.

According to the Foundation, the loan payment of these beneficiaries will be used to roll out another batch of the same kind of training for the project’s sustainability.

“The DSWD is thankful for this corroborative support of various private organizations in upholding the sustainable livelihood development initiatives of our Department, especially to our Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries,” shared Dir. Annie Mendoza, Assistant Regional Director for Operations of the DSWD Field Office IV-A.

The E. Zobel Foundation is a civil society organization partner of the DSWD IV-A that engages in special programs such as livelihood, medical allowance, social pension and scholarship for selected beneficiaries in Calatagan, Batangas.

The Foundation and the DSWD IV-A formally entered into a Memorandum of Agreement last 2014 to help improve the living condition of beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the said town.# (reports from E.Zobel Foundation)