LUBAO, Pampanga — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has granted some PHP1 million livelihood assistance to the graduates of the Alternative Learning System (ALS) here.
Raquel Lugtu, Lubao Public Employment Services Office (PESO) manager, said the grant was given to the 210 beneficiaries in the form of starter kits and business startup equipment.
Lugtu said PHP500,000 of the grant was used to purchase bakery equipment for 40 graduates of the ALS training on bread and pastries who had grouped together to establish a new business under the name Lubao ALS Bakers.
The equipment include commercial ovens, heavy-duty mixers, cooling trays and racks, bread slicer and digital weighing scale which the recipients will house in a shop that will supply bread and pastry products to Lubao public schools.
Lugtu said the local government of Lubao had also provided PHP60,000 for the initial ingredients needed by the group to start its operation.
The other beneficiaries have undergone a month-long training on massage therapy (70 graduates), electrical installation and maintenance (50); and hairdressing (50).
They were given a starter kit each to begin indulging in profitable businesses of their own, Lugtu said.
For her part, DOLE Pampanga chief Arlene Tolentino thanked the local government unit for its support in the implementation of the labor department’s programs.
“The LGU of Lubao is one of the most active in the implementation of DOLE programs,” Tolentino said. (Marna Dagumboy Del Rosario/PNA)
