DOLE to award succesful recipients of livelihood projects

CEBU, Philippines — Beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment’s livelihood program who were able to improve their lives through the said program will be awarded anytime soon.

Joemar T. Enanor of Cabugnayan, of Bogo, Maria, Siquijor, who ventured into egg-laying projects bested other regional contenders and won under the Best Individual Project Category.

While the Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Can-asujan (NAMACAN) in Carcar City, Cebu, emerged as the winner and outshined the rest of the regional nominees under the Best Group Project Category.

Enanor will receive P30,000 cash prize and P50,000 for NAMACAN.

According to the department, NAMACAN demonstrated that it successfully expanded the services it offers, augmented its income, and generated employment.

Both winners will represent DOLE-7 to the national competition to be held in Manila.

DOLE-7 regional director Lilia A. Estillore, who personally led the selection of the regional winners, said that they recognize the livelihood project recipients for their outstanding accomplishments.

She said that the selection of awardees for various categories of awards under the DOLE Kabuhayan Awards has been institutionalized.

“By showcasing the accomplishments of our top-performing livelihood project beneficiaries, we are able to spread their best practices hoping that other beneficiaries and the would-be beneficiaries will be able to replicate the same,” said Estillore, in a statement.

Other awards that will be conferred during the national awarding ceremonies to be held later this year will include Top Performing Regions in Livelihood Implementation; Top 3 Performing Regions in Sustainable Livelihood Framework Implementation; Best in Video Documentation; Best Performing Livelihood Focal Person; Best Local Government Unit- Implementing the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP)/ Best Accredited Co-Partner (ACP)- Implementing DILP); and Recognition of the PESO Managers of the national winners of the Best DOLE-Assisted Livelihood Projects.

Estillore added that another very important consideration they looked into in the selection process is that the projects of the nominees should have been funded by DOLE within a specific period of time.

She said that there are nominees that are very promising but failed to comply with this requirement.

To qualify, the department said that individual projects should have been funded within 2019 to 2022.

Under the Group Projects Category, projects under the Formation Stage should have been funded within four years prior to the current year.

Projects under the Enhancement Stage should have started through DOLE’s assistance in terms of working capital and provided enhancement to similar projects within at least one year after the first assistance was given. —/GMR (FREEMAN)