ODIONGAN, Romblon (PIA) — A total of P184,171 worth of livelihood kits were distributed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) – MIMAROPA Region, through its Romblon Provincial Office, to seven local business owners in Romblon, April 14-15.
The individual livelihood grant beneficiaries were from Odiongan, Looc, and San Jose towns
According to the DOLE-Romblon, the program is in line with the government’s mandate to improve the socioeconomic status of marginalized individuals in the community such as local business owners affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement, DOLE Romblon director Carlo B. Villaflores said that the role of the beneficiaries now is to develop and enhance their skills and knowledge, and widen their market to earn profit from the kits that the Department has provided.
“Inaasahan ng pamahalaan na magagamit ninyo sa wastong pamamaraan ang ipinagkatiwala sa inyong mga kagamitan at maging instrumento ito nang pagbabago ng inyong katayuan sa buhay,” according to Villaflores.
The beneficiaries’ chosen individual projects include a clothing line and T-shirt printing, tailoring business, fishing paraphernalia, banana chips, restaurant business, welding, and vulcanizing shop.
The financial assistance extended to the beneficiaries was taken from the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).
In an interview, DILP beneficiary Mary Ann Perez from Odiongan thanked DOLE and the LGU for assisting her request for a tailoring machine and other materials for her tailoring business.
“Ang livelihood grant na aking natanggap ay isang patunay na ang inyong kagawaran ay dedikado na maipaabot sa mga mahihirap at nangangailangan ang maayos na trabaho sa pamamagitan nang pagkakaloob ng negosyo. Ang inyong pagkakaloob ng starter kits para sa aking patahian ay isang hudyat para muling makabalik sa pag-aaral ang aking dalawang kolehiyong anak na napahinto dahil sa kakulangang pinansyal,” said Perez.
The DILP seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce the vulnerability to risks of the working poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers either through emergency employment or the promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprises.
It also provides a working capital solely for the purchase of equipment, tools, jigs, and other raw materials to be used in their livelihood undertakings. (FJM/PJF/PIA Mimaropa)
