Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has launched the Pag-Abot (Reaching Out) Program in four municipalities in the region, aimed at assisting children, individuals, and families living on the streets.
According to Philippine News Agency, DSWD-5 project development officer Ranelle Sertan stated that Baras, Catanduanes; Juban, Sorsogon; San Jose, Camarines Sur; and Bacacay, Albay will each receive PHP2-million in municipal funds for community assistance projects. The beneficiaries, primarily street families from the National Capital Region (NCR), will be relocated to these towns to improve their living conditions. The reintegration process will include financial, transitory shelter, and livelihood assistance based on social worker assessments. The implementation of subprojects is scheduled to begin around June to July.
In a related development, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Agriculture in Bicol have initiated the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Convergence Project, providing employment for 150 disadvantaged and displaced workers across the Bicol Region.
DOLE-Bicol Regional Director Imelda Gatinao highlighted that the partnership extends beyond emergency employment by empowering beneficiaries through sustainable skills development. Each participant is required to engage in six hours of community-based tasks daily for 90 days, earning PHP395 per day. The work involves site maintenance, agricultural support, and hands-on training in plant propagation, nursery management, mushroom production, tissue culture, food processing, value-adding, and livestock raising. These activities are designed to enhance the beneficiaries' skills, boost agricultural productivity, and create long-term livelihood opportunities.
The 150 participants will be distributed across various offices, with 30 assigned to the Research Division and 15 each to the eight Research Outreach Stations. These include the Central Bicol Experiment Station, Masbate Center for Livestock Development-Masbate Breeding Station, Masbate Center for Livestock Development Regional Carabao Breeding Center, Albay Research and Development-Albay Breeding Station, Albay Research and Development-Albay Experiment Station, Catanduanes Hilly Upland Development Station, Sorsogon Dairy Production Technology Center, and Camarines Norte Lowland Rainfed Research Station.
