DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has released P9 million for the livelihood projects of nine youth organizations in the province. 

Each group received P1 million to fund their proposed projects under DOLE’s Service Quality Improvement Program (SQIP).

SQIP aims to provide financial grants through livelihood projects and capacity-building interventions to enable the beneficiaries to improve the quality of their services and sustain their projects. 

“The SQIP fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and sustained improvement at all levels of the DOLE livelihood program, with emphasis on delivering simplified and error-free services,” said DOLE Negros Oriental Provincial Director Ma. Teresa Tanquiamco. 

The youth groups were chosen as beneficiaries through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program as they are into digitization and technology.

Addressing a tourism service gap

One of the livelihood grant’s recipients is the Libjo Youth Organization (LYO), based in Manjuyod town, which is into pump boat and parasailing rental services. 

Charie Mae Amahit, 28, who leads the LYO, thanked DOLE for providing their group with an opportunity for the members to earn income. 

“We expect the grant will help us augment our family income as well as the school expenses of our members,” said Amahit. 

LYO has 35 youth members aged 18-30, of whom 10 are still studying while the rest are either already married or out-of-school youth.

The organization came up with their business to capitalize on the reputation of Manjuyod as the “Maldives of the Philippines,” owing to its White Sandbar, a popular tourist attraction in the town. 

Amahit explained that going to the sandbar poses a challenge for visitors due to the limited transportation services in the area, a gap that their business venture hopes to fill in by providing pump boat and parasailing rental services to tourists. 

The White Sandbar is a 600-hectare strip of pristine white sand that can be reached via a 15-minute boat ride from the coast of Bais City, adjacent to Manjuyod.  

Manjuyod is a 2nd-class municipality located 69.5 kilometers away from the province’s capital, Dumaguete City.

Youth organizations

The youth organizations that received the livelihood grant from DOLE are the following: Deaf Ministry of Dumaguete (bBread & pPastry, pPrinting sServices, sSouvenirs & cCrafts, and pProvision); Dauin Parish Youth Ministry for its Proyekto sa Kabatan-unan ni Kulas (wWater aAdventure, bBaking, and pPrinting sServices);  Sibulan Arts Guild for its Sibul Arts Guild pPhoto and pPhoto videography sServices; Tinago Adolescent Youth Organization for its pPhoto vVideography, sSouvenirs, and eRental sServices; Dumaguete West City Vendors  Association; San Isidro Labrador Youth Organization; Barangay Okiot Young Laborers Organization; and Bayawan City 4H Club.

Accredited co-partner

In Negros Oriental, DOLE partnered with the Metro Dumaguete College (MDC) as the accredited co-partner (ACP). 

MDC will assist in ensuring that the proposed projects are implemented effectively. 

“As the ACP, the Metro Dumaguete College shall help us in the effective execution of the said projects as well as in the monitoring part where we, in DOLE, advocate for sustainable livelihood projects or those undertakings that are expanded and made lasting and sustained,” said DOLE-7 Regional Director Lilia A. Estillore. 

MDC President Dr. Delma P. Manila committed to help ensure the success of the livelihood undertakings of the beneficiaries.

As part of MDC's corporate social responsibility, Manila announced that MDC will provide free trainings and workshops to all recipient organizations.

She said they will support the beneficiaries by making them well-equipped and ready to handle and manage their business ventures. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)