LEGAZPI CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Albay Provincial Field Office has distributed PHP3.2-M worth of livelihood grants to three barangay local government units (BLGUs) in Albay, which benefitted over a hundred poor villagers.
Rovelinda A. Dela Rosa, OIC Regional Director of DOLE-Bicol, in an interview on Monday, said the DOLE Kabuhayan Starter KITS Project is one of the department’s livelihood formation strategies intended to bring about improved socio-economic well-being of workers in the informal economy, and in groups/sectors with special concerns, and their families.
The three villages that received their kits with the corresponding amount of assistance are: Mendez in Polangui town, PHP1.1 million worth of business kits benefitting 60 residents; San Agustin in Oas town, PHP1.1 million worth of business kits for 60 beneficiaries; and Matambo, Oas, PHP1million business kits for an undetermined number of beneficiaries consisting of poor farmers.
Barangays Mendez and San Agustin received their livelihood grants last June 28 while Matambo received its kits Monday, July 2.
Dela Rosa said the kits consisted of tools, jigs and equipment for cooking, carpentry, farming and sewing — ovens, sewing machines and hollow block-maker — that will enable the target beneficiaries to quickly start a livelihood undertaking and become self-employed.
“We want the beneficiaries to be engaged in a sustainable self-employment through easy to learn undertakings,” dela Rosa said.
DOLE-Albay Provincial Field Office head, Raymond Escalante, said the beneficiaries underwent training to ensure the proper management of their livelihood projects.
“You have to be productive because only 5 percent from 1,300 population is lucky to be recipients of these tools. Do not trade these to monetary equivalent as you will only receive an amount for a day. Make use of these equipment in your business instead so you may get PHP300 or more profit per day,” Escalante advised the recipients.
One of the beneficiaries, food vendor Annie Asuncion of San Agustin village, Oas, said, “Dai po masukol an samong kaogmahan sa tabang na samong naresibe sa paagi kading program ani DOLE. Mawot mi pong ipaabot saindo na samon pong papatangamanon ang saindong mga tinao ta ini po ang matao samon nin kauswagan. (We cannot measure the joy in our heart for this assistance that we received from DOLE program. We want to extend our gratitude by taking care of these which will lead to our progress)”.
Another recipient, Florencia Olicia of Barangay Matambo, Oas, said, “Dakula pong katabangan ini samong mga nagatios. Salamat po ta dae kami pinabayaan kading mga officers nagtarabang-tabang ngani po kami matawan sang mga gamit hale sa DOLE (This is a huge help for us. Thank you because our officers didn’t leave us. In fact, we helped each other so DOLE can grant us these tools and materials)”. (Connie Calipay/PNA)
