GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) released around PHP5.5 million worth of livelihood grants in line with the 2019 Independence Day or Kalayaan job and business fairs here on Wednesday.
Sisinio Cano, DOLE-12 regional director, on Thursday said the grants were received by five local government units (LGU) and a group of vendors, which availed of the assistance under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program.
He said the assistance will benefit at least 438 marginalized and informal workers in five localities in the region.
The recipients are the municipal governments of Alamada (PHP1.85 million) and Pigcawayan (PHP665,041) in North Cotabato; Barangay Poblacion, Malungon (PHP992,600) and Paraiso, Alabel town (PHP587,335) in Sarangani; Tacurong City (PHP996,700) in Sultan Kudarat; and Tacurong Terminal Vendors Association (PHP500,000).
Cano said they turned over the checks and certificates of availment to the recipients on the sidelines of the Kalayaan-Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan job and business fairs held at the SM mall trade hall here.
He said the grants will fund the implementation of livelihood projects that were proposed by the beneficiaries, through their partner LGUs.
"The approved projects were for Yacon wine processing, coffee processing, motor parts and motor servicing store, and water refilling station," Cano told reporters.
Some of the beneficiaries will receive starter kits of basic implements, materials and initial capitalization for various small business ventures, he said.
For the job fair, the official said 665 jobseekers from various parts of the region registered and filed their applications.
He said their monitoring showed that some 34 jobseekers were "hired on-the-spot" and enlisted 20 others for government internship program.
Cano said the interns will work as enumerators, data encoders, and community facilitators under the agency's Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program.
"They will be assigned to profile the child laborers in the region," he said.
During the event, DOLE-12 released its counterpart funding of PHP2,669,257 for the salaries of 787 beneficiaries of the Special Program for the Employment Students or SPES. (PNA)
