CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently distributed livelihood kits to micro-enterprises in Central Luzon who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The starter kits, which amounted to P2.19-million, are part of the Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay-Livelihood Seeding Program (NSB- LSP) of the DTI, and is a component of the Social Amelioration Program of the government during the pandemic.

According to DTI Central Luzon Director Judith Angeles, the distribution of starter kits intends to help micro-entrepreneurs recover and restart their livelihood during the quarantine period.

She disclosed that as of July 28, 2020, a total of 368 beneficiaries in 58 barangays in the seven provinces of the region benefited from the distribution of the kits.

Instead of cash, livelihood packages amounting from P5,000 to P8,000 were distributed to beneficiaries in affected barangays under the NSB-LSP.

Items included in the starter kits vary according to the kind of livelihood in the communities such as sari-sari store items, food processing kits, doormat making tools, ingredients and materials for kakanin and other delicacies, among others.

The Livelihood Seeding Program of the DTI is part of the enrolled programs in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act and is included in the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2020 providing for, among others, social amelioration measures to help Covid-19 affected communities cope up and recover their livelihood.