AT LEAST 25 individuals from Arayat town recently received food stalls from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Central Luzon.
Each food stall costs P20,000 each, bringing the total project cost to half a million pesos.
The food stall project in Arayat falls under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Project (DILP) that aims to contribute to poverty reduction through promotion of entrepreneurship and community enterprises.
Fernan Alsaga, a father of two and a person with disability, was one of the beneficiaries of the program. In 2002, he suffered a serious leg injury
during a basketball game that led to the amputation of his lower leg limb the following year.
Currently at 51 years old, Alsaga strives to support his family's daily needs by selling leche flan primarily in the nearby wet market.
"We make a living by selling leche flan in the market. But since my wife had a stroke, we can rarely make and deliver our products, so our customers went to other suppliers," Alsaga said.
Many businesses and enterprises have been largely affected since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita, DOLE, together with the Public Employment Service Offices (Pesos) around the region, targets those whose livelihood is greatly affected by the pandemic.
"We find them, or they find us through referrals. Every municipality has their own Peso, which residents can approach for possible provision of livelihood or job opportunities," Campita said.
Along with 24 other beneficiaries, Alsaga thanked DOLE.
Also present during the turnover of livelihood projects were Arayat Mayor Bon Alejandrino and Peso Manager Arlyn Sebastian.