DSWD grants P13.5M sustainable aid to POs in DdO, enabling them to start livelihood projects

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) awarded P13.5 million worth of livelihood assistance to 45 people’s organizations (POs) in Davao de Oro through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) on October 3, 2023.

Kerwin S. Gabasa, Provincial Coordinator of SLP, emphasized that the program’s primary focus is to address the root causes of communist armed conflict. Its goal is to improve the socio-economic conditions of those involved by providing access to and acquiring necessary assets for them to engage in and maintain a sustainable livelihood.

Each association received seed capital funds worth P300,000 to start their chosen livelihood projects including General Merchandise, Agrivet Supply, Chicken Production, Hog Raising, Rice Retailing, Water Refilling, Minimart, and others.

Gabasa also expressed gratitude for the convergence effort – to the provincial government headed by Governor Dorothy Montejo-Gonzaga, security sectors, and partner agencies for their support in identifying the qualified beneficiaries and monitoring the program’s progress.

In her message, Governor Gonzaga encouraged the beneficiaries to utilize government assistance efficiently and strive to develop it for the betterment of the association’s members.

“𝐴𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑘𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑡 𝑛𝑖𝑙𝑎 𝑛𝑔𝑎 𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑏𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑘𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑎 𝑘𝑎𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑎 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑠𝑎 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑑 𝑢𝑔 𝑘𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑝𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑢𝑙𝑜 𝑘𝑎 𝐾, 𝑚𝑎𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑔 “𝐾𝑎𝑘𝑢𝑔𝑖, 𝐾𝑎𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑚, 𝑢𝑔 𝐾𝑎ℎ𝑖𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑜” 𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑠𝑜𝑠𝑎𝑠𝑦𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑜 𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑜 𝑝𝑎 𝑝𝑎𝑔-𝑎𝑦𝑢,” statement of Jonathan V. Alcala, Osmeña Farmers Association President.

To date, 88 EO70 SLP associations from 2020 to 2023 have received livelihood assistance from the agency. The OPAPRU-NFA also provided one sack of rice to 34 people rescued from DDOPPO and the 1001st Brigade.

COL Gerry M Besana, LTC Michael T Aquino, PCPT Analou F Hormigas, PSWDO Head Josephine Frasco, and DSWD XI personnel attended the ceremony at the Capitol Lobby. (R. Hortizano)