AT LEAST 9,281 families in Eastern Samar have benefitted from various livelihood assistance under its development banner program “Proyekto 25,” said the Provincial Government in its report.

Provincial Administrator George Erroba said the program serves as “inclusive poverty solution” in the province under Governor Marcelo Picardal.

“'Proyekto 25' is our platform for development. It served as the backbone, supporting the growth of Eastern Samar for the next five years. We believe that if we reached the target of lowering the 46.3 percent poverty incidence in the province into 25 percent, Eastern Samar will change its direction,” said Erroba.

The program focuses on the development of agri-fishery, tourism, governance, and health in the province.

In terms of its livelihood support, the Province reported that it recently distributed 101 gilts or sows with feeds, 491 piglets, 11,695 native chickens, 982 ducks, 515 goats, five egg-laying machines with 50 hens, 1,200 broiler chicks with feeds, 28 tractors, and about 4,371 sacks of fertilizers with other data to be accounted yet.

The livelihood assistance amounted to P16,503,364 was given to 1,670 Household-based Organizations (HBO) beneficiaries comprising 9,281 families.

An HBO is composed of up to five families who are related to each other and living close to each other.

Floro Acaba, in-charge of the community development and public affairs office, said that “Proyekto 25” is a “social preparation” for the various anti-poverty efforts of the government.

“We prepare the communities. This is a very important component of the project. We’ve been doing this for more than a year,” said Acaba, adding the success of the project is not an overnight event.

According to the official, the people “should own the project in order to succeed.”

“Government believes that there can be no meaningful progress or development without the community at the heart (of the project),” he said. (SunStar Philippines)