LEGAZPI CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5), through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), has awarded livelihood grants to four new eligible associations in Albay province, an official said.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Ram Joseph Zaragoza, DSWD-Bicol project development officer for SLP, said their agency awarded nearly PHP1 million to these SLP associations on Monday for their proposed livelihood projects.
"Since they have just received the livelihood grants, they will canvass for the construction of facilities for their livelihood projects. We expect they will be able to build their facilities in one to two months, and by then, they will have earnings," he said.
Zaragoza said the four SLP-organized associations were from the towns of Jovellar and Rapu-Rapu in Albay.
The recipient groups are the Jovellar Magayon SLP Association, which got PHP150,000 for the tilapia production project; Piggery SLP Association (PHP210,000); Mamlad Jovellar Grocery Enterprise (PHP300,000); and the Pigsabangan Hog Raiser SLP Association (PHP300,000).
Zaragoza said they have a five-year livelihood sustainability plan for the projects.
"Aside from the income that will be generated from the projects, food supply like the tilapia and hogs in the barangays will be materialized once the projects become operational," he added.
The SLP is a capability-building program of the DSWD to improve the abilities of people experiencing poverty to advance in life by providing them with appropriate assistance. (PNA)
