SoCot launches new livelihood program for poor

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--The provincial government of South Cotabato has initiated a new livelihood program for residents in poor and marginalized communities in the province.

Ma. Ana Uy, community welfare development division chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said Monday the initiative aims to provide stable livelihood to poor residents through the development of micro enterprises.

Dubbed Holding Opportunities for Productive Entrepreneurship (HOPE), she said the program was formally established through an executive order signed earlier this month by South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes.

Uy said it will replace the Self-Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran or SEA-K program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).    

The SEA-K program, which is a joint initiative of the DSWD and local governments, aims to enhance the socio-economic status of poor families in marginalized communities in partnership with local government units.

The initiative involves organizing prospective beneficiaries into community-based associations and the training of their members on various entrepreneurial skills.

Like the SEA-K, Uy said the program was designed to work through credit scheme but loans will be provided to the beneficiaries in cash and in kind.

"Half of the loanable amount or 50 percent will be used to buy needed equipment or materials while the remaining 50 percent will be given in cash to serve as start-up capital,” she said.

Small loans under the SEA-K program are currently given in cash to individual members of community groups or associations, she said.

Under HOPE, she said beneficiaries will receive a maximum loan of PHP10,000 for the first level or cycle and repay them within two years without interest.

Beneficiaries may later apply for the second cycle with a maximum loanable amount of PHP15,000, she said.   

Uy said current SEA-K beneficiaries are required to repay their loans in full before transitioning to the new livelihood program.

She added that they are targeting to fully implement the program within the province’s 10 towns and lone city early next year. (PNA)