At least 43 families in a conflict-vulnerable town in Masbate benefitted from the PHP600,000 sustainable livelihood program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the region.
“The 43 families were members of two associations in the town of Claveria. They are from the Baracas EL Cawayeño Association and the Boca Engaño Women’s Association. Each (association) received PHP300,000 as their seed capital fund,” Ram Joseph Zaragoza, DSWD Bicol SLP social marketing officer, said in an interview on Friday.
Zaragoza said the grant distributed on Thursday, intends to uplift the standard of living by providing them with capital to start a business.
“Assisting individuals and families living in conflict-vulnerable areas (CVAs) is part of the implementation of Executive Order 70, series of 2018 or “Institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation Approach in Attaining Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, Creating a National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and Directing the Adoption of a National Peace Framework,” he said.
DSWD-Bicol also said they are willing to give capability training that will help their businesses be more progressive and productive.
Aside from the awarding of the checks, the DSWD and the local government of Claveria also conducted a ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement for the prepositioning of family food packs (FFPs) and non-food items.
Source: Philippines News Agency