12,000 benefit from ARMM livelihood program

COTABATO CITY, Philippines - No fewer than 12,000 residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) stand to benefit from livelihood support packages from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

ARMM’s regional social welfare secretary, Rahima Alba, on Friday said the beneficiaries of the startup financial assistance from the DSWD are members of the department’s Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) associations.

“We can now distribute what is due to each of the SEA-K association in the autonomous region,” Alba said.

Alba said beneficiaries can use the startup capital grants for small businesses and procurement of farming inputs needed to improve their yields.

The thrust is bankrolled by the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which has a total funding of P120 million from the national government.

Eighty-seven SEA-K associations in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur received a total of P250,000 grants on Wednesday during a symbolic turnover rite at the ARMM compound in Cotabato City.

The autonomous region also covers the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

The recipients of the SLP are Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members and beneficiaries of DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Non-4Ps beneficiaries in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur have also been given livelihood grants, according to Alba.