GENERAL SANTOS CITY — At least 112 low-income workers here have received some PHP929,200 worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Sisinio Cano, DOLE-12 regional director, said Thursday the assistance is part of the approved support packages for the beneficiaries under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
Cano said the beneficiaries are poor and distressed workers from 22 of the city’s 26 barangays. Fifteen of the recipients are displaced workers of beverage giant Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines, Inc. located here.
The livelihood assistance came in the form of starter kits for “sari-sari” store ventures comprising of 404 sacks of rice and assorted grocery items.
“These projects were proposed by the beneficiaries themselves and were later approved after our evaluation,” Cano said.
Cano said the agency initially provided technical and other support assistance to the beneficiaries to ensure that their ventures will prosper and sustained long-term.
Prior to the release of the starter kits, he said the beneficiaries were trained on simple bookkeeping.
“We will continue to monitor and assist them as they go along with their ventures, especially in terms of technical assistance for project enhancement,” he said.
DILP is a flagship program of the agency that “seeks to contribute to poverty reduction and reduce the vulnerability to risks of the working poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers through emergency employment, promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprises.”
Last month, DOLE-12 also released some P2 million worth of livelihood packages to 180 beneficiaries in Koronadal City and Polomolok town in South Cotabato. (PNA)
