CEBU, Philippines - Over 26,011 poor individuals in Central Visayas have improved their quality of life under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran or SEA-K program.
Through the SEA-K, one of the government’s initiatives to help alleviate and fight poverty, a seed capital of P125,000 to P150,000 is granted to a group, composed of 25 to 30 members, may it be women, family enterprise, and special groups such as persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The amount may be used by the beneficiaries for small scale existing business enterprise such as sari-sari or rolling stores, farming, livestock raising, fishing, food processing, dress making, and shell craft and fish vending. It is payable in two years free of interest and without collateral. This loan grant is one of the major thrust programs of DSWD in uplifting the socio-economic condition among the disadvantaged groups.
DSWD-7 director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said that in the region, the department has organized and implemented 1,168 different livelihood projects under SEA-K level one and 23 for level two, both covering the island provinces of Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor and Cebu.
One of the SEA-K groups organized by DSWD in 2002 is the Balud Women’s SEA-K Association in the southern town of Dalaguete, Cebu DSWD reported.
The group invested in vegetable pickles as the municipality is famous and known for its fresh, cheap and bountiful harvest of vegetables. The town of Dalaguete is popularly known as the vegetable basket of Cebu.
After members underwent skills training provided by DSWD-7, an amount of P125,000 was granted to them. They were able to fully pay the amount after a couple of years at the same time put up their own capital buildup of another P125,000.
Assisted by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI ) and the students from the University of the Philippines, Women’s SEA-K Association won second prize in the One Town One Product (OTOP) competition in Cebu Province last year.
Today, Dalaguete pickles by the SEA-K Women’s group is starting to carve its own name and brand in the local market. Currently, they are working hard to make their product better so they would be able to compete with the other products sold in big department stores and malls. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/WAB (THE FREEMAN)