DSWD earmarks P150 million for SLP

CEBU, Philippines —  At least P150 million has been allocated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to help disadvantaged families to become self-sufficient. 

DSWD-7 regional director Rebecca Geamala said the qualified beneficiaries, especially those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, may avail of the sustainable livelihood program of the agency.

SLP is a capacity-building program implemented by DSWD that helps improve the socio-economic conditions of poor households and communities through accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods.

The SLP is implemented through a two-track program—employment facilitation track and microenterprise development track.

An eligible individual may be assisted through employment facilitation which prepares the beneficiary to be qualified and ready to enter employment. If qualified beneficiaries opt to choose the microenterprise development (MD) track, they must submit a proposal to their Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) Office for assessment of their project.

“In every town, in every city meron tayong DSWD office pupunta sila at saka meron tayong Project Development Officer (PDO) d’yan, kung ano ang project na gusto nila they will be having a meeting with the PDO tapos i-assess yan at saka tulungan sila, kung ano ang gusto nila they will be funded according to the approved project proposal na sinubmit nila,” said Geamala during a virtual interview by Assistant Secretary Jonjie Gonzales of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).

The maximum seed capital fund (SFC) for the SLP is P15, 000 per family. The money may be used to start up or continue a microenterprise. They may open a vending business, sari-sari store, hog raising or any project that is sustainable to provide the needs of the family.

“I believe kung totoo ang pagtrabaho ng pamilya hindi sila malulugi, so it is a big help to the family” Geamala added.

The target participants of the program are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino  Program, non-Pantawid households identified as poor families based on the Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), poor families with certificate of indigency from the LGU, and families identified as part of a vulnerable group-- PWDs, out-of-school youths, disaster-affected.  FPL (FREEMAN)