SABANGAN, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sabangan continues to offer its livelihood program to residents resulting in increased recipients for the last four years since its institutionalization in 2019.
According to the Mayor Marcial Jr. C. Lawilao of Sabangan Mountain Province, approximately 3000 recipients, almost half of the total population of their municipality, were granted financial assistance by the said program. This was in partnership with different agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Local and Employment (DOLE). He added that the amount and resources that will be granted to each recipient will depend on the beneficiaries’ request of their desired livelihood such as but not limited to: weaving, plantation sewing and others.
Monetary Summation
Based on the data from the Municipal Employment and Livelihood Office of the Mayor this livelihood program has benefited 15 grantees through DOLE program in 2019, 43 in 2020, 31 in 2022 and 80 in the first semester of 2023 that costed a total amount of ₱3,320,494.00.
Consequently, under DSWD, there are 15, 70 and 311 grantees for the year 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively, amounting to ₱7,400,000.00 for the 396 total recipients.
For DTI, it granted ₱584,000.00 for the 78 total recipients of the program from the year 2021 until the semi-annual of the present year.
In total, the program was able to grant 643 recipients a total amount of ₱11,304,494.00.
The Legal Process
Jovit G. Mek-eng, Labor and Employment Officer from the Municipal Employment and Livelihood Office of the Mayor, reiterated that the office is open for interviews, recommendations, and endorsement to the three partner government offices.
In order to be granted, one must qualify to several guidelines. According to Mek-eng grantees should not have any members of their household working permanently or part of barangay workforce. With this, she also reminded that once approved, the funds will be released to the agency. Thus, this agency will be the one who will hand the funds to the grantees. At the same time, they will also monitor the progress of the grantees’ livelihood, making sure that the funds are maximized.
Recipient comments and appreciations
Agnes N. Fabrigas, a weaver in Tudoy, Poblacion shared that the program is a good avenue as it allows recipients to have a livelihood for them. Furthermore, this program has allowed her to share the knowledge to others through initiating trainings in their area.
She also stated that the maintenance of the program and making its profit will always be a matter of choice because every resource is provided and the manpower is up to them.
The Guidelines: What to follow?
One of the most notable guidelines of the program is making sure that materials given to the beneficiaries are being used in accordance to its purpose. If not, it will be pulled out and returned to the office for other beneficiaries to use.
If the livelihood business unfortunately went bankrupt, the office assured that they are willing to open reconsiderations and another assistance will be rendered as long as the guidelines and legal process are being abided.
Mayor’s Message to stakeholders
On the partner agencies, Mayor Lawilao extended his gratitude to the leader who collaborated with LGU Sabangan in order to fund and make the program successful.
“So, we should give due recognition to [the] Department of Labor Employment under the leadership of Regional Nataniel Lacambra, DSWD Regional Office under the leadership of Director Leo Quintilla”
He also shared his encouragement to the recipients that they must use the program in a good way and maximize it well. He also added motivations to every beneficiary that problems are always there but they must continue.
“Napintas ti biyag a-ading ko, ibaga yo iti kinapintas na iti biyag. Just enjoy and share to them. Ti problema, haan nga ma[i]delay, right there, the problem should be solved, [i]ti problema, normal dayta [and] part of life. (Life is beautiful, my fellow, tell them how beautiful life is. Just enjoy and share to them. Problems, it cannot be delayed, right there, the problem should be solved. Problems are normal and part of life)
On the partner agencies, he extended his gratitude for collaborating with LGU Sabangan in order to fund and make the program successful.
“So, we should give due recognition to [the] Department of Labor Employment under the leadership of Regional Nataniel Lacambra, DSWD Regional Office under the leadership of Director Leo Quintilla.” By Kristian C. Salio
