Sikap Buhay beneficiaries receive P1.2 M

The Quezon City government turned over yesterday Puhunang Pangkabuhayan Sikap Buhay (PPSB) checks amounting to P1,274,000 to the latest new batch of livelihood assistance program beneficiaries, mostly housewives seeking to augment family earnings.

The new beneficiaries of the no-collateral facility program consists of 238 housewives who have completed livelihood training sessions conducted by the city government.

The women come from four barangays in the city’s second district, namely: Santa Monica, North Fairview, San Bartolome and Pasong Putik.

Councilor Eric Medina said the new beneficiaries received checks ranging from P5,000 to P7,000. The women are engaged in small businesses in the communities like candlemaking and sari-sari stores.

"In these hard times, housewives are now actively involve in seeking additional income to augment the salaries of their husbands," Medina told The STAR.

He said Sikap Buhay, which was launched by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. in April 2002 has benefited over 1,000 residents in District 2, the highest populated district (500,000) in the city.

Earlier, Antonio Ortiz, executive director and chief executive officer of the National Livelihood Support Fund, reported that as of February, a total of 3,674 small entrepreneurs from poor communities in Quezon City have benefited the livelihood assistance program.

Ortiz said the NLSF, which is a partner of the city government in implementing the program, will release an additional P3 million for some 554 more individuals.

He said because of the perfect repayment record, the PPSB is now being adopted by the national government as its model in implementing livelihood programs in various parts of the country.– Perseus Echeminada