In recent weeks, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VII has received numerous inquiries from citizens regarding livelihood assistance.

It is for this reason that the DSWD 7 wishes to inform again the public on the matter.

DSWD 7 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, explained that DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a capability-building program for poor, vulnerable and marginalized households and individuals for acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods that help improve their socio-economic conditions, has been a regular program of the Department.

The SLP aims to enhance the capabilities of poor Filipino households and individuals by strengthening their skills, competencies, abilities and resources in accessing income-generating opportunities to help improve their socio-economic well-being.

The Sustainable Livelihood Program contributes to improving the economic sufficiency of poor households, prioritizing Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries, in developing employable skills, securing gainful employment, earning steady and sufficient income, and accessing social security and financial resources.

The program also contributes to the social adequacy of the poor by engaging them to build stronger relationships with other community members and harness social safety nets through participation in SLP Associations (SLPA).

“Aside from the Pantawid beneficiaries, SLP also caters to poor household included in the Listahanan or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), a DSWD information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the country,” clarified Director Macapobre.

Those who are poor but not Pantawid beneficiaries and not included in the Listahanan who would want to avail of the assistance, must have a barangay certificate of indigency.

The SLP shall facilitate interventions through two tracks: 1) Micro-enterprise Development (MD) and 2) Employment Facilitation (EF).

Under the Micro-enterprise Development, beneficiaries are given skills on managing small business. The qualified ones are granted no collateral and interest-free loans if they have the skills for small business.

In Employment Facilitation Program, the beneficiaries are given training through partner government agencies and private organizations.

With this facility, beneficiaries are given jobs based on their acquired skills.

Director Macapobre underscored that the livelihood assistance is not automatically given to the participants.  The participants and their proposals shall be assessed by DSWD.

“As implementer, the DSWD, like any other government agencies implementing a program, has to carry out the program following its guidelines in coordination with the local government units,” conveyed Director Macapobre.

She also said that “since SLP is a regular program of DSWD, the agency has deployed implementers in every city and municipality.  They are called Project Development Officers (PDOs)

“Anybody who would want to know about Sustainable Livelihood Program can visit the nearest local social welfare office and look for DSWD’s PDO,” said Director Macapobre. ###

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