GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has allocated an additional PHP9.8 million in livelihood grants for marginalized workers in Sarangani province.
Domingo Baron, DOLE-Sarangani provincial manager, said Tuesday the funds will be utilized for the provision of livelihood starter kits and other support assistance to individual and workers' groups in the province's seven municipalities.
He said the additional grant brings the approved funding for the province this year under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program to nearly PHP15 million.
Baron said the agency released last week an initial PHP4.1 million to the provincial government, through the Public Employment Services Office (PESO), as livelihood grants for some 392 beneficiaries.
The release of the grants, which was sought by Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon, will be facilitated by PESO-Sarangani.
"These will mainly benefit community-based groups composed of marginalized workers from various sectors," he said in a statement.
These include women, youth, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, fisherfolk, farmers and public transport workers and drivers, former overseas Filipino workers and drug surrenderers.
Glenda Revaño, PESO-Sarangani manager, said the beneficiaries will be required to submit business plans or project proposals for their planned small business ventures.
She said the identification of the projects will be based on the preferences and skills of the beneficiaries.
Citing the initial PHP4.1 million grant, she said the approved livelihood projects were tailoring, sari-sari store, mini eatery or carinderia and raising of farm animals.
Revaño said that aside from the livelihood grants, the beneficiaries will receive trainings and technical assistance to ensure that their projects will succeed.
She added that they will also be enrolled in an insurance program offered by the Government Service Insurance System. (PNA)
