DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) – The  Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) turned over P500,000 as livelihood assistance to a vendor’s group at the Dumaguete City Public Market.

Around 90 female members of the Dumaguete City Public Market Fruits and Vegetables Vendors Association received livelihood aid under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

DILEEP helps vulnerable and disadvantaged workers and community worker groups, especially women and children who operate in the informal sector by engaging them in sustainable enterprises to supplement their household income, said DOLE information officer Raizza Rubia. 

Association president Lourdes Nalam said most of the members of their group are women who struggle to augment their family income, especially those who have children in school.

“Kini makadugang sa among capital para sa among additional income sab para sa pamilya. Busa  mapasalamaton mi’g dako sa DOLE na nitabang namo na maka uplift sa amoang kahimtang sa tiangge kay sa pagkakaron mingaw kaayo ang halin, but at least, kon dunay dugang ayuda ilabi na sa igtilinda, makatabang namo’g dako,” said Nalam.

(This can augment our capital and yield additional income for our family. We are very grateful to DOLE because they helped uplift our livelihood in the market. Right now, we are short on our sales, so this financial grant will help boost our income.) 

Nalam thanked DOLE for enabling the group to fulfill its goal of establishing a general merchandise and marketing venture.

With the Dumaguete West City Vendors Association as the DOLE-7’s accredited co-partner, the group assured that they would operationalize their livelihood project and manage the funds responsibly.

“We hope that the association will always observe and foster a cooperative atmosphere among its members to be able to take care what they received form DOLE,” said Vivencio Lagahid, officer-in-charge of DOLE in Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

The group’s members sell vegetables in the market, such as kangkong (water spinach), malunggay (moringa), camote (sweet potato), alugbati (Malabar spinach), saluyot (jute leaves), okra (lady’s fingers), eggplant, beans, upo (bottle gourd), and squash.

There are also fruit vendors in the group who sell bananas, oranges, apples, pears, lemon,  among others.

Association vice-president Rosita Tinio said selling vegetables has always been their way of life in the market. 

Tinio has been helping augment her husband’s income as it can barely support their family. 

“Among dakong pasalamat sa gobyerno pagpadayon ug tabang sa mga pobre labi na sa kababayen-an na naninda pag suporta sa among proyekto ug kinahanglanon,” said Tinio in an interview with Philippine Information Agency. 

(We are very thankful to the government thru DOLE for continuously helping us marginalized women vendors by supporting our venture and needs.)

“Salamat ninyo nga ang among gihulat na proyekto, niabot na gyud,” she added. 

(Thank you because through your help, the project we’ve been waiting for will now finally be realized).

Rubia said they will soon turn over the jigs and materials needed by the group for their identified livelihood project. 

DILEEP also covers unpaid family workers, those with low wages, seasonal workers, and those facing displacement. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)