ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 is confident of hitting its target of 11,555 poor family beneficiaries for its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
It has so far released livelihood assistance (totaling P10,174,810) to 698 families whose 35 project proposals were approved for funding.
Of the 35 project proposals, 14 were from families from Capiz, one from Guimaras, 13 from Iloilo, and seven from Negros.
According to May Ann Masculino, SLP program coordinator of DSWD-6, most of the beneficiaries availed themselves of the seed capital fund for proposed community stores, rice retailing, and agricultural supply, among others.
Aside from seed capital fund, the three other SLP program modalities were skills trainings, cash for building livelihood asset, and employment assistance fund.
According to Masculino, SLP’s implementation had been slow due to the new process being observed, and due to DSWD’s lack of staff to work on the program.
Prior to approving a project proposal, the beneficiary must first undergo accreditation and livelihood training sessions.
“Ang social preparation could run from four to six months,” said Masculino.
For this year, DSWD allotted P248,594,270 for the target 11,555 SLP family beneficiaries in the following provinces:
* Negros Occidental – 5,520
* Iloilo – 3,231
* Capiz – 931
* Aklan – 701
* Antique – 701
* Guimaras – 471
SLP beneficiaries must not be beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program./PN
