SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with the Barangay Local Government Unit (BLGU) of Bubog awarded a tailoring and dress-making project to the Samahan ng mga Single Parents Paco Extension in the town of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro.

The assistance package includes four high-speed sewing machines, a heavy-duty edging machine, tools such as cutting tables and chairs, and raw materials such as fabrics, threads, and needles.

This will benefit 28 members of Samahan ng mga Single Parents Paco Extension who are all solo parents.

According to Mylene Lleno of the DOLE Provincial Office, the majority of the members of the beneficiary association have been involved in sewing, 

“Marami po sa kanila ay natutong manahi sa mga dati nilang trabaho sa mga pribadong kumpanya,

[“Many of them learned how to sew in their previous employment in private companies,”] said Lleno.

The DOLE, BLGU, and the association considered this in selecting a suitable livelihood for the group.

DOLE Occidental Mindoro provincial director Peter James D. Cortazar said that providing a sustainable livelihood to solo parents will benefit their families and the economy in the long run.

“We are delighted to grant these livelihood opportunities to our solo parents for recognizing their struggles in balancing work and family responsibilities. As more solo parents gain access to sustainable livelihoods, it is expected that this simple initiative will have a ripple effect on families and communities, yielding a greater economic impact,” Cortazar shared.

Mildred Gregorio, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude for the intervention, 

“Maraming salamat po sa DOLE sa pangkabuhayan na ibinigay po sa aming mga solo parents. Kayo po ay hindi lamang tagapagtaguyod ng kabuhayan kundi rin ng mga pangarap ng mga nais umunlad ang buhay,

["We thank DOLE for the livelihood that they have awarded to us solo parents. The DOLE is not only an advocate of livelihood but of our dreams of those who want to succeed in life,"] she said.

The project is under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program, which focuses on aiding individuals and groups in starting their livelihood or expanding an existing project. 

Ultimately, the program seeks to capacitate the marginalized to eradicate poverty. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)