P1.2-M DOLE Livelihood Assistance benefits 100 beneficiaries in Gasan

 

GASAN, Marinduque (PIA) -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Marinduque Field Office distributed the enhancement of rice retailing and food vending business to the 100 beneficiaries from the municipality of Gasan with total fund of P1,200,000.

Beneficiaries are from informal sector like individuals with insufficient income, women, senior citizens, fisherfolk, and farmers. Among the recipients were fifteen (15) parents of profiled child laborers (PCL) who were granted with 10 sacks of rice containing 20 kilos each, weighing scale, and a pack of plastic bags.

Livelihood Development Specialist Mr. Christian Mark Rodelas and Gasan PESO Designate Mr. Michael Pelagio facilitated the distribution of bigasan (rice retailing) package.

“Kami po ay tuwang-tuwa at lubos na nagpapasalamat sa DOLE, kay Ma’am Jomarah (CL Community Facilitator), sa PESO, at sa pamahalaang bayan ng Gasan sa ibinigay sa aming ito. Apaikutin po namin ito para tuloy-tuloy na mapagkunan ng kita (We are in high spirits and indeed grateful to DOLE, Ma’am Jomarah, PESO, Gasan Municipal Government for giving us this [livelihood assistance]. We’ll make this business grow so we’ll have a sustainable stream of income),” said LA Saguid, one of the beneficiaries of said program.

Cha-Cha (not her real name), second child among Saguid’s children, had to help her parents at a young age. They sell variety of kakanin out of ube and saging, as well as organic fertilizers.

With the livelihood assistance, Saguid and her family can earn more to support the needs of Cha-Cha and her three siblings, vowing not to involve them anymore in child labor activities and allow them to focus on education and recreation.

DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program or DILP aims to contribute to poverty reduction and risk reduction among working poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers through emergency employment, entrepreneurship promotion, and community enterprises. (PRESS RELEASE/END/KKGB/DOLE-MARINDUQUE)