The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 5 (Bicol said Thursday it has provided food assistance to almost 6,000 families, as well as cash and livelihood aid to more than 1,000 individuals in the region over the past two months.
In a report released on Thursday, DSWD-5 Director Norman Laurio said their office, with help from the local government, distributed the various assistance through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD), and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
For the SLP, PHP13.4 million in livelihood grants were distributed during the last week of December last year to 910 small business owners from various municipalities in Camarines Norte, intended to serve as start-up capital for establishing or expanding participants’ livelihood ventures.
Laurio added that the seed capital would be used for different microenterprises, including rolling stores, community stores, welding shops, tailoring shops, and vulcanizing shops, as well as fish vending, hog raising, food vending, and fishing.
He said the DSWD would monitor the progress of the ventures and explore potential areas for further intervention to ensure their success and sustainability.
In Masbate, DSWD-5 personnel validated 200 potential participants for the SLP.
Qualified participants are expected to receive capacity-building interventions and livelihood support for their proposed microenterprises, which include goat and poultry farming, vegetable farming, horse hauling, sari-sari stores, charcoal buying and selling, and hollow block production.
Through the SLP, the DSWD-5 aims to help underprivileged Bicolanos achieve professional growth and economic progress, building their capacity to create and sustain a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Family food packs
Meanwhile, families affected by the shear line in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte provinces received almost 6,000 family food packs (FFPs) early this week.
Laurio said the FFPs are intended to address the immediate food needs of families whose livelihoods have been disrupted by weeks of continuous heavy rains caused by the shear line and other weather disturbances.
A total of 3,176 FFPs were distributed to barangays in the towns of San Fernando (666 families), Milaor (1,000 families), and Sagñay (1,510 families).
In Camarines Norte, 2,469 FFPs were delivered to families in Barangays Banocboc (929 FFPs), Pinagtigasan (570 FFPs), Mangcawayan (510 FFPs), and Singi (460 FFPs).
The barangays were identified as some of the hardest-hit areas by the heavy rains associated with the shear line.
Stipends for 4Ps
The local government of Milagros in Masbate province, together with the DSWD-5, meanwhile, distributed stipends to 192 parent leaders of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on Tuesday.
The stipends were provided by the local government through the approved proposals from municipal link officers of the DSWD’s 4Ps.
The PHP192,200 stipends were funded by the local government of Milgaros to provide financial assistance for transportation and communication expenses.
It also serves as a token of appreciation for their commitment, encouraging them to continue their invaluable contributions to the program. (PNA)
