FIVE workers groups from Benguet province received grants amounting to P1.45 million from the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) May 27 as start-up for their livelihood projects.
ELAMFLA received P150,000 to start its sugarcane production livelihood project while the Association of Persons with Disabilities was granted P350,000 to start Beauty, Barber cum Shoe Repair Shop Livelihood.
The Community Enterprise Development on rice retailing of the Palina Women's and Livelihood Association received the amount of P 150,000.
The Lepanto Local Employees Union also received P500,000 for rice retailing livelihood program, while the Sebang Farmers Association got P300,000 for community enterprise development.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Agusto Daculog expressed gratitude to Dole-Cordillera for the financial assistance granted to them under the agency's Integrated Program towards Community Enterprise Development.
"Maraming salamat sa tulong na naibigay ng Dole sa amin especially sa aming mga persons with disability na kadalasan ay marginalized at hirap makahanap ng trabaho… Ito ay pagkakataon na makatulong sa aming pamilya, at asahan ninyong gagamitin namin ito sa tama," he said.
George Lubin, OIC-Baguio Benguet Field Office, shared key points on how to flourish the assistance granted to them. He stressed on the word RESPECT that stands for Research, Enthusiastic, Start Socializing, Plan, Explain, Clever and Trust.
Meanwhile, Leonardo Doguil, senior labor officer, encouraged the beneficiaries to be like a farmer who planted the seeds and nourished it with water, fertilizer and love, so it would grow and flourish.
Dole-CAR Regional Director Henry John Jalbuena in an interview, also encouraged the beneficiaries to show that they give importance and can let grow the livelihood program, which the government granted in line with the poverty reduction and massive employment generation thrust of the Aquino administration. (PR)