P2.1M in livelihood kits given to Tacurong folk

A total of 235 marginalized residents here recently received livelihood assistance packages courtesy of the city government and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Turned over in a ceremony at the Tacurong City Cultural and Sports Complex on February 19 were P2.1 million worth of Kabuhayan Starter Kits, according to a report for the City Information Office.
Present during the event were City Vice Mayor Joseph George Lechonsito, City Councilors Rodrigo Jamorabon, Psyche Sucaldito, and Wilson Ferrer, CLGOO Alberto Sero and DOLE-Sultan Kudarat Field Office Head Arlene Bisnon who represented DOLE XII Regional Director Ofelia Domingo in the turn over the livelihood kits.
Implemented under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), the livelihood package worth as much as P10,000 is given to each beneficiary to help them begin a small business such as rice trading, salon, meat processing, welding, dressmaking, hairdressing and others.
Beneficiaries consisted of 35 returning OFWs, 30 persons with disability, 22 househelps, graduates of the skills training program of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, and qualified walk-in applicants.
Kabuhayan Starter Kit program is a grant assistance for capacity-building on livelihood for the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized workers.
It aims to enable the unemployed poor, seasonal, and low-waged workers to start an individual livelihood, or collective enterprise undertakings.
The Php10,000 start-up capital is used solely for the purchase of raw materials, equipment, tools and jigs, and other support services necessary in setting-up the livelihood.
Beneficiaries are not bound to repay the government for the assistance provided.
The KABUHAYAN Starter Kit program was funded under the Bottom-Up Budgeting worth Php1.4 million and Tacurong-LGU’s counterpart worth Php700 thousand.
The applications for this first batch of beneficiaries were received in 2015.
Applications for the next batch are ongoing and will be approved subject to several requirements set under the DILEEP program. (DEDoguiles-PIA 12 with report from LGU Tacurong City Information)