More than 130 street vendors in Iloilo City now have better tools to earn a living after receiving Nego-Karts through a government-led livelihood initiative.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 6, in partnership with the Iloilo City Government, distributed 133 Nego-Karts under the “Negosyo sa Kariton” program on March 19 at the Iloilo City Hall grounds.
The project, which aims to support ambulant vendors, also provided 100 women with sari-sari store inputs as part of a broader PHP 6.8 million assistance package.
The livelihood support was designed to help vulnerable sectors, including women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, and informal vendors.
The program forms part of DOLE’s Livelihood or Kabuhayan Program, which provides grant assistance to disadvantaged and marginalized workers for capacity-building on entrepreneurial ventures.
During the turnover ceremony, Dela Banda delivered the message of DOLE Regional Director Atty. Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr., who emphasized the role of livelihood in poverty reduction.
“We fight poverty not with dole-outs but by building livelihoods,” said Rodriguez, whose message highlighted the project’s alignment with National Women’s Month.
Rodriguez also underscored the need for inclusivity and empowerment, especially for women-led microenterprises, which have seen increasing support under DOLE’s livelihood grants.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, who led the ceremonial turnover with DOLE officials, praised the initiative for enabling vendors to work with dignity and improved safety.
The Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart) project provides pushcarts with roofing, signage, and storage space, allowing informal vendors to formalize and grow their small businesses.
According to DOLE, vendors selected for the program are often those previously operating under precarious street vending conditions, lacking both equipment and protection from weather.
In addition to physical assets, beneficiaries also receive entrepreneurship orientation and basic business management training to improve sustainability.
The program is part of a broader strategy by DOLE and local governments to promote microenterprise development, particularly in urban areas where informal labor is prevalent.
Since its launch in 2009, the Nego-Kart project has benefited thousands of vendors nationwide, enabling them to transition from subsistence selling to more stable livelihoods.
