MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is urging marginalized workers to avail of livelihood assistance of the government to help increase their income.
Undersecretary Joel Maglunsod said the department has made available livelihood programs for vulnerable sectors.
“You may consult our attached agencies because the labor department offers various services and livelihood programs which you may avail of to have additional income for your families,” he said in a statement Wednesday.
Maglunsod noted that the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) program, aims to generate sustainable local enterprises towards increased self-employment and productivity across the regions.
Under the DILP, qualified organizations composed of 15-25 members can avail of a maximum financial assistance of PHP250,000 for the Micro-Livelihood group project; 26-50 members can apply for a maximum financial assistance of PHP500,000.00 for the Small Livelihood; and for the Medium Livelihood, an organization composed of 50 members can gain access to a maximum financial assistance of PHP1 million, depending on the project requirement.
Individual beneficiaries may avail of the DOLE Starter Kit or NegosyosaKariton (Nego-Kart) and gain access to a maximum financial assistance of PHP20,000, depending on the project requirement.
On the other hand, Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns (BWSC) Director Ma. Karina Perida-Trayvilla noted that the program is designed to reduce the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers by providing them access to a grant assistance for capacity-building on livelihood ventures either for individual or group undertakings.
“In an average family, there should be at least two providers. There should be a flexible and sustainable source of income for a family to have a decent home, enough food on their plates, and proper clothing and education for their children. “This is the aim of DOLE’s livelihood programs: to grant workers or their wives an opportunity to be an entrepreneur and establish their own businesses,” she added.
The applicant organizations for the group livelihood project should have a Project Management Team and profit sharing scheme, which should be both specified or indicated in the business plan/proposal and in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
With this, Maglunsod encouraged the workers to call the DOLE Hotline 1349 or coordinate directly with his office for immediate assistance or log on to the DOLE website. | PNA
