LEGAZPI CITY –– At least PHP3-million worth of business kits were distributed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office, through its Albay Provincial Field Office, to 180 target beneficiaries in two villages of Polangui town on Tuesday.
Rovelinda A. Dela Rosa, OIC regional director, said in an interview that this is one of DOLE’s contributions to the government agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation throughout the country.
“The tools provided to the beneficiaries are expected to bring livelihood enhancement. Farm productivity will be improved and will eventually translate into higher family income and enabling them to become more productive citizens of their community,” she said.
The Napo Barangay Council received PHP1.9-million worth of kitchen materials and other tools for 102 micro-entrepreneurs composed of 27 food vendors, 25 farmers, 21 hog raisers, 7 dressmakers, 6 carpenters, 5 beauticians, 3 masons and one rice trader, vegetable and rice retailers/wholesaler, upholsterer, barber, manicurist, house painter and automotive and electrical technician.
On the other hand, Mendez Barangay Council, which has 60 micro-entrepreneurs, received PHP1.1-million worth of business kits as livelihood grant to the beneficiaries.
Vivian Gonzales of Barangay Napo, one of the beneficiaries of the said assistance, said her wish to acquire kitchen tools for her food vending business has been granted.
“We are thankful for these kitchen wares to DOLE, because out the 102 beneficiaries, I’m lucky to be among them who received these materials,” Gonzales shared during the awarding of the livelihood assistance in their village.
“This livelihood grant is helpful to us for most of the women here in our village are not gainfully employed. Now, we have our own source of income to support my children and family in financial aspect,” Nancy Losantas, 46, one of the beneficiaries in Barangay Mendez, said.
“We will do our best for this business to flourish so we may be given a second batch of assistance,” she added.
The Kabuhayan Program, under which the business kits were distributed, is a component of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program which gives grants to the poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers. The program includes capacity building in collaboration with government agencies like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). (Connie Calipay/PNA)
