By Jennifer P. Rendon
Hundreds of individuals from the informal sector of Western Visayas received livelihood assistance as part of the government’s intervention efforts.
Recently, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6, through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), distributed livelihood assistance grants (LAG) amounting to around P10 million.
DSWD-6 said the grant benefited 1,111 individuals in the fifth district of Iloilo.
Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, DSWD-6 regional director, and 5th District Representative Raul Tupas spearheaded the distribution of the LAG assistance in Balasan town on Tuesday.
They were joined by Balasan Mayor Manuel C. Ganzon, Vice Mayor Felomino Ganzon, the Sangguniang Bayan members of the town and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Janet Alunday.
The town of Balasan has 80 LAG recipients composed of 63 pedicab drivers and 17 women in food processing business. The drivers received brand new pedicabs from DSWD.
Aside from Balasan, the DSWD also distributed LAG assistance in the town of Carles with 119 beneficiaries; San Dionisio – 176; Estancia – 90; Batad – 60; and Concepcion with 80 beneficiaries.
On February 5, the DSWD-6 also distributed LAG in Ajuy with 74 beneficiaries; Barotac Viejo – 90; Sara – 102; and Lemery with 180.
Aside from pedicab and tricycle drivers, the grant also benefited vendors, household workers, seaweed growers, and fisherfolks.
In support of the presidential proclamation relative to COVID-19 pandemic and Republic Act 11469 (Bayanihan to Heal as One Act), DSWD also provided social amelioration programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and augmentation of Food and Non-Food Items (FNI), among others, during the quarantine period.
Apart from providing emergency subsidies, the DSWD also rolled out other interventions such as the provision of Livelihood Assistance Grants to low-income families in the informal sector whose livelihoods or jobs were affected by the impositions of community quarantine or are assessed to be continuously affected.
