THE head of Cebu City Department of Welfare for the Urban Poor (DWUP) has defended his office’s livelihood initiatives, saying these programs existed long before the mushroom-growing drive began.
“DWUP has livelihood programs. The previous DWUP director might not have implemented them. But, as for me, I am implementing them,” DWUP chief Ronald Librando said in Cebuano in a phone interview on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
Librando’s statement came after Councilor Nestor Archival questioned DWUP during an executive session last April 2, saying he saw no mushroom growth at several sites and questioned why DWUP implemented livelihood programs.
Program’s start
According to Librando, the mushroom-growing program started in March, providing P4,000 seed capital to beneficiaries in areas like Barangays Budlaan, Quiot and Binaliw.
According to DWUP data, about 4,000 individuals have benefited from this initiative. The office allocated P48 million for financial assistance, with P40 million already obligated and around P20 million disbursed in March.
Librando said they haven’t distributed the remaining funds because some beneficiaries didn’t comply with requirements such as application forms, identification cards, voter’s registration or barangay clearance and orientation attendance.
“We have profiled them. They have beneficiary profiles. We even oriented them on how to handle the mushroom growing, but some of them didn’t comply,” Librando said.
The distribution of remaining funds is on hold due to the Commission on Elections ban for upcoming elections.
Librando added DWUP also implemented other livelihood programs, including dishwashing soap making, candle making and meat processing, with about 1,500 beneficiaries receiving starter kits from a P1 million budget.
He emphasized that results will appear about two months after implementation, not just two weeks when Archival checked the farming sites.
“It’s not just about housing. It’s holistic. Our program here is about human settlements, how to improve lives,” Librando said in Cebuano. / JPS