Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is being pushed to become a permanent, long-term solution to poverty beyond short-term aid. During a public hearing on Tuesday of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo said government interventions should go beyond temporary aid and focus on sustainable income opportunities.
According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo emphasized that addressing immediate needs with temporary aid is not enough, describing such measures as merely a "Band-Aid solution." He advocated for the institutionalization of the SLP to ensure its continuity across various administrations, highlighting the importance of sustaining the program beyond the tenure of current officials.
The SLP is designed to provide capital assistance, skills training, and market support to help beneficiaries establish or expand their livelihood projects. DSWD Assistant Secretary Edmon Monteverde reported that since 2011, the program has served 4.1 million beneficiaries, achieving a 78.86 percent success rate among the 1.2 million projects monitored. However, Monteverde acknowledged existing gaps in monitoring due to limited resources and manpower, which hinder the ability to fully cover all beneficiaries.
Monteverde also pointed out that factors such as natural calamities, internal organizational issues, and beneficiary relocation affect project outcomes. In response, the DSWD has introduced refinancing mechanisms for affected livelihood projects. Tulfo highlighted the need for increased funding to institutionalize the SLP, particularly for hiring more personnel to enhance monitoring and implementation efforts.
The Department of Budget and Management stated that funding support for the institutionalization of the SLP may be provided following an evaluation of the proposed measure. The Senate panel's initiative seeks to establish a sustained system that will empower Filipinos to develop stable sources of income, thereby reducing their reliance on government aid.
