DAGUPAN CITY — In line with the observance of the 122nd Labor Day celebration, around 40 oyster growers in Dagupan City have received livelihood assistance in the form of bamboo-floating rafts from the Department of Labor and Employment-Central Pangasinan Field Office (DOLE-CPFO).
The bamboo-floating rafts were officially turned over to the Association of Oyster Growers in Dagupan City on May 1, as part of the Labor Day celebration anchored on the theme: “Sa Bagong Pilipinas: Manggagawang Pilipino, Kabalikat at Kasama sa Pag-Asenso”.
Agnes Aguinaldo, head of DOLE CPFO, announced that the grant, amounting to P990,640, is under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or Kabuhayan Program, which is one of the department’s contributions to the government’s agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and poverty reduction.
“DILP aims to contribute to poverty reduction and mitigate the vulnerability of impoverished, vulnerable, and marginalized workers by facilitating access to grant assistance,” Aguinaldo explained.
She noted the activity aims to support the oyster industry’s production and assist the growers in increasing their production.
Meanwhile, Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez expressed her gratitude to the department for supporting the oyster producers in the city.
Fernandez said that with this assistance, the growers will be able to increase their oyster production, aligning with the city’s plans to host a Talaba Festival in the coming years to further promote Dagupan’s oyster industry.
Simultaneously, the DOLE awarded various livelihood assistance amounting to P4,969,511 and P2,446,432 at the Pangasinan Public Employment Service Office (PESO) in Lingayen town and Magic Mall in Urdaneta City, respectively. By Elsha Marie S. Arguel