While\nthe coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected the economy of the country, it has\nironically provided an opportunity for some people to come up with sustainable\nlivelihood program in Central Visayas. Many resilient Filipinos have taken\nadvantage of the situation and were able to address the surfacing demands for\nproducts and services amidst the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With\nthis, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas allotted\na P15-million budget for this year\u2019s Sustainable Livelihood Program for\nFilipinos in the marginalized sector \u2013 who are critically affected by the\ncommunity quarantine. The Regional Head of DSWD-7, Rebecca Geamala, shared\nduring the online presser hosted by the Office of the Presidential Assistant\nfor the Visayas (OPAV) that families who belong to the informal economy (not part of the formal labor force)<\/em> can\napply for this livelihood grant from the agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n About the Sustainable\nLivelihood Program of DSWD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nSustainable Livelihood Program of DSWD has long-provided opportunities for\nincome-generating activities and livelihood development since 2011. The aim of\nthis program is to reduce poverty and inequality among Filipinos by generating\nemployment among poor households and by moving highly vulnerable households\ntowards economic stability. This program has grown from serving 46,000 families\nin 2011 to 340,000 in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During\nthe online presser, Geamala said that this newly\nallocated budget for Central Visayas hopes to improve the socio-economic\nconditions of poor households by giving them access to thrive for a new\nlivelihood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo our\nbeneficiaries will identify what type of projects they want to engage in, make\na proposal and we will assess for possible funding,\u201d<\/em> says Geamala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How to apply for\nDSWD\u2019s Sustainable Livelihood Program<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Individuals who\nare interested to avail of the livelihood grant may visit the nearest field\noffice of DSWD and seek assistance for the assigned Project Development\nOfficers. The PDO will help in processing and assessing their livelihood\nproposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Approved\nbeneficiaries are given the option to register for Microenterprise Development\ntrack or Employment Facilitation track \u2013 after they participate in the social\npreparation and capacity-building activities. Participants for MD track must be\nat least 16 years old while those pursuing EF track must be 18 years old upon\nemployment. This is to follow the legal employment standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the funding\nmay defer depending on the viability of the proposed livelihood, eligible\nbeneficiaries are provided with the maximum budget of P15,000. Through this,\nthe beneficiaries may be able to augment their income and sustainably provide\nfor all their needs. Usual community-based micro-enterprises include sari-sari\nstore, hog raising, and vending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is also\nimportant to note that under the SLP, two members per household may avail of the\nprogram but each shall pursue different program tracks. If the applicant is\nidentified as poor, he or she may directly proceed with the succeeding SLP\nactivities. However, if the applicant is tagged as illegible but has been affected by the onslaught of the pandemic, the department\nwill refer him\/her to other appropriate institutions of the government for\nassistance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While the coronavirus pandemic has greatly affected the economy of the country, it has ironically provided an opportunity for some people to come up with sustainable livelihood program in Central Visayas. Many resilient Filipinos have taken advantage of the situation and were able to address the surfacing demands for products and services amidst the pandemic. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":14694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[203],"tags":[2947,2946,2948,2949],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n