300 Mandaue microbusiness owners get P15K assistance

CEBU, Philippines — Over 300 residents from 11 barangays in Mandaue City received P15,000 each as seed capital fund under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7.

Assisted by the Office of Mandaue City Lone District Representative Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, the 333 grantees from the 11 barangays in the city received the aid that aims to help them expand their current microenterprises.

“Kini nga programa sa gobyerno gibuhat para sa pagpalig-on sa kapasidad sa mga nanginabuhian. Matag usa sa atong mga grantees ni agi sa house visitation profiling, financial literacy, business management, ug capacity building seminars aron ilahang mapa-lambo ang ilang SCF,” said Ouano-Dizon, who led the payout, together with Cebu Sixth District Board Member Jonkie Ouano and several local officials.

Several beneficiaries, who requested not to be named expressed their gratitude to the national government and to the congresswoman for pushing that the SLP program will be funded, so that some Mandauehanons will get the financial aid especially at this time, where inflation has impacted commodities.

“Nagpasalamat mi sa atong gobyerno ug labi na ni Congresswoman Lolypop. Sukad sukad karon pa gyud ko nakadawat og ayuda sa gobyerno. Ako gyud ning palamboon isip dugang ni sa akong puhunan sa akong negosyo kay dili tanan tawo mahatagan og P15,000. Dako kaayo ning tabang sa among pamilya, labi na gihatag ra ni, dili loan, pasabot ana wala mi bayranan. Mao nga ampingan og palambuon gyud ni namo sa among pamilya ang maong ayuda,” said a fish vendor, who used to work in a newspaper company but lost his job during the pandemic.

SLP is a capacity-building program for the identified poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities aimed at providing viable interventions and support to improve the program participants’ socio-economic conditions by accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods.

According to DSWD, the SLP aims to enhance human assets through technical-vocational and life skills training; extend social assets through membership and participation in SLP associations and community groups; expand financial assets through seed capital and access to credit and savings facilities; enrich natural assets that protect and contribute to community livelihoods; and establish or acquire physical assets for more efficient livelihoods.

Modalities of the SLP include the Seed Capital Fund, a start-up capital for the purchase of tools, raw materials, common service facilities and other assets needed in starting or expanding a microenterprise.

It also includes the Cash-for-Building-Livelihood Assets (CBLA) Fund, a grant for labor-intensive projects to build, rebuild or protect natural and physical assets necessary for microenterprises, as well as the Skills Training Fund, a capacity-building assistance for the acquisition of technical and vocational knowledge and skills.

There is also the Employment Assistance Fund, a grant to acquire employment requirements.

Earlier, DSWD-7, led by Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, recently signed a memorandum of agreement with its partners who responded and pledged their commitment to support the program.

These partner agencies will aid in the implementation of the SLP by helping the program participants strengthen their skills, competencies, abilities, and resources through skills training and technical assistance to improve the participants' socio-economic status.

Among the new partners for SLP implementation are 16 government and four private agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, National Irrigation Administration, and the Philippine Carabao Center.

It also includes the Fiber Industry Development Authority, Cooperative Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The program also has the support of the Bohol Island State University, Cebu Technological University, Negros Oriental State University, Siquijor State College; Alturas Supermarket Corporation, BSIT International College, Holy Name University, and University of San Carlos.

The SLP has disbursed a total of P393,186,400 seed capital funds to the 24,427 program participants in the entire region in the 2023 implementation. — (FREEMAN)