
KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat – Some 158 indigents from this coastal town and in nearby Lebak municipality now have permanent source of income after the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided them with livelihood starter kits.
“We are glad we have this livelihood assistance from DOLE, we now have dignified and fixed source of income,” Ana Leah, 35, one of the 158 beneficiary-indigents said in Filipino.
Leah used to peddle cigarettes, candies and other goodies in the public market of this town.
Each of the beneficiaries received tools and kits for the following herbal medicine making; chorizo making; cosmetology, dressmaking, T-shirt printing, carinderia, welding, carpentry, carwash, vulcanizing, furniture, vegetable gardening, fishing, barbeque vending, flower arranging, waffle making, halo-halo vending, balut making, auto mechanic and banana chips.
“It will give them the opportunity to earn a living decently,” Yahya Centi, DOLE assistant director for Region 12, on Wednesday said.
Centi led on Tuesday the distribution of the livelihood starter kits to the identified beneficiaries in the municipal gymnasium of the nearby Lebak town.
Centi said that more livelihood assistance are in the pipeline for the indigents in the provinces of South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudart and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Tacurong, Koronal and General Santos.
“The government is determined to help the less fortunate residents to earn decent and permanent sources of income and distribution of livelihood starter kits is just one of them,” he told the beneficiaries during turn over rites of the starter kits. (PNA)