THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has recently distributed some P343,020 worth of Kabuhayan (Livelihood) Starter Kits (KSK) for carpentry and dressmaking in the province of Zamboanga del Sur.

Lawyer Roy Buenafe, DOLE regional director, reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III that 20 individuals from the town of Guipos benefitted from the distribution of the livelihood starter kits.

Buenafe said the provision of KSK falls under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), which is the agency’s contribution to the government’s agenda of poverty reduction and inclusive growth through the promotion of livelihood and entrepreneurship.

The distribution of the KSK was made in coordination with the DOLE field office in Zamboanga del Sur and municipal government of Guipos, through the Public Employment Service Office (Peso).

“Hopefully, these starter kits that will be provided to you will augment the income for your daily needs, especially at this time of the pandemic,” Miraflor Casanes, Zamboanga del Sur DOLE Field Office head, told the recipients of the KSK.

Casanes also mentioned the significance of the Peso, which provides employment facilitation services in the municipality of Guipos.

The recipients of the KSK were oriented on DOLE’s other programs and services, Occupational Safety and Health aspect for the Informal Sector, which highlighted the importance of having a healthy and safe workplace as well as Financial Literacy to help understand and use various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing to be able to sustain their respective business/income generating undertaking.

The municipal government officials of Guipos witnessed the distribution of the KSK to the recipients.

The DOLE regional office has already released livelihood projects to 372 individuals in Zamboanga del Sur from January to June, this year. (SunStar Zamboanga)