DSWD Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo led the distribution of the livelihood assistance grant of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in the three municipalities in the province of Bohol during his visit.

In his message during the payout, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo addressed the beneficiaries to work hard and make their livelihood sustainable. “Ako lang i-remind nga gamiton kini sa sakto, dili kini para isugal, isabong o shopping, gamiton kini para sa inyong negosyo aron molambo ang estado sa atong pamilya (I would like to remind you all that this [assistance] should be put to good use. This should not be used for gambling and for shopping; this is for your livelihood to improve the economic status of your family).”

Secretary Tulfo added that local officials and the field staff assigned to their municipalities are always ready to help and to give financial assistance if needed. “Lumapit lang kayo (all they need to do is approach them).”

“Magtulungan po tayo para sa kaunlaran ng ating bayan (Let us work together for the development of our country),” Secretary Tulfo ended his message with encouragement for everyone.

Mixed emotions: this is what Adela Boñao felt after hearing the secretary’s message.

“Akong i-promise nga palambuon nako kining akong panginabuhian, kay panahon nga mo graduate na ako sa pantawid, aduna koy masandigan nga negosyo alang sa akong pamilya. Hinaot nga magpadayon ang DSWD sa pag-abag namong mga kabus, sama nako (I promised to take care of this and make my livelihood sustainable. When the time comes that I will graduate from Pantawid, I have this business to lean on for my family. I hope that the DSWD will continue to assist the poor and vulnerable families like me).”

Adela Boñao is a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary who availed of the Livelihood Assistance Grant of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). She admitted that the grant from 4Ps covers the education of her children, but their daily needs were taken care of from the salary of her husband and her snack stall.

Adela added that during the pandemic, her husband was laid off from his job and their family relied only on their snack stall. She shared, “Timing kaayo kining ayuda gikan sa Sustainable Livelihood Program kay ipuno ko kini sa akong tindahan, tungod kay wala nay trabaho ang akong mister sukad niadtong pandemic (This financial assistance from the Sustainable Livelihood Program will be used to improve our snack stall. This is timely because my husband lost his job since the pandemic.”

Adela is one of the 80 beneficiaries of the Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) in Carmen, joined by the 34 beneficiaries in Dagohoy and 30 in Candijay. Each was given 15,000 as start-up capital for their livelihood.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program disbursed a total of PHP 2,160,000.00 to the 144 beneficiaries in Carmen, Candijay, and Dagohoy during the Secretary’s Visit. ###

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