GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato released an additional PHP2.9 million in livelihood grants to nine community-based women groups under the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) program.
Romel Salanio, provincial SEA-K coordinator, said Wednesday the beneficiaries comprised the women groups that qualified for the grants under the program's first and second levels or cycles.
He said five groups received seed funds for new livelihood ventures while four others availed of additional funding after reaching the second level.
The new beneficiaries are the Purok Santos-SEA-K of Barangay Zone 3 and STBA SEA-K Association (SKA) of Barangay General Paulino Santos in Koronadal City; Hope SKA of Barangay San Isidro in Sto. Niño; Corner Stone SKA of Barangay Pula Bato in Tampakan; and, Barangay Lopez Jaena SKA of Barangay Lopez Jaena, Norala.
The four groups that reached the second level are the Lady Brigade SKA of Barangay Zone 3 and Red Lady of Barangay Magsaysay in Koronadal City, Lunen SKA of Barangay Lunen in Tupi and Naranyag SKA in Tantangan.
Salanio said the newly-enrolled groups received a total loan grant of PHP1.33 million, with an approved capitalization of PHP10,000 per individual member of the women associations.
He said each SEA-K group comprised of 25 to 30 members.
"The funds will be used to jumpstart their chosen livelihood programs," he said in an interview.
He said they released some PHP1.575 million to the four groups in the second level, with an individual capitalization of PHP15,000.
A group-beneficiary reaches the program's second level after completing the repayment of their first start-up grant and was able to sustain their chosen livelihood, he said.
Prior to the release of the grants, which were interest-free and set in soft repayment terms, Salanio said members of the beneficiary-groups underwent employable livelihood trainings facilitated by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
The trainings included modules on basic business management, simple bookkeeping, product marketing and design development, he said.
"This is to ensure the sustenance of the livelihood projects and facilitate the repayment of the loan grants," he added. (FKA/PNA)
