Central Luzon workers get P20-M livelihood aid

FILE: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday provided PHP 20-million worth of livelihood assistance to 1,606 workers from several local government units in Central Luzon. (Photo by KC Wong/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday provided PHP 20-million worth of livelihood assistance to 1,606 workers from several local government units in Central Luzon.

The worker-beneficiaries, who came from Bataan, Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, received the  assistance during the DOLE’s 84th founding anniversary celebration held at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium on Friday.

The DOLE’s livelihood assistance is among the government programs meant to augment incomes of families of workers in the informal sector of the economy.

For the local government unit of Hermosa, Bataan, livelihood assistance amounting to PHP560,000 was awarded to the 86 farmer-members of Hermosa Bataan Eagle Farmer’s Association for the procurement of farm equipment and supplies, and to the 15 housewife-members of the Katipunan ng mga Bagong Filipina for the procurement of six motorized boats.

Also in Bataan, 25 members of the Coco By-Products Association in Balanga, received an assistance worth PHP500,000 as additional working capital for their Barangay Pasalubong Center.

The local government unit of Baler, Aurora received PHP1,762,600 for the establishment of a retail store for motorcycle parts and other related services that would cater to the needs of tricycle drivers and operators. The project will be managed by Baler Trike Association, which is composed of 27 members.

In Zambales, the Women’s Association of Candelaria received PHP250,000 as additional working capital to the existing rice retailing store of its 30 members.

For the local government unit of Subic, livelihood assistance worth PHP240,000 was given as additional capital for the existing Nego-Kart of 24 ambulant vendors and sari-sari store owners; and another PHP6 million for the provision of Nego-Karts and Kabuhayan Starter KITS to 300 beneficiaries who are mostly ambulant vendors, carpenters/furniture makers, and sari-sari store owners.

For the Provincial Government of Tarlac, PHP10 million was provided to 763 beneficiaries of Kabuhayan Starter KITS and to 160 beneficiaries of Negosyo sa Kariton (Nego-Kart) selling fish ball, banana cue, barbecue, smoked fish, and siomai.

The 176 members of the Pagkakaisa ng Kababaihan ng Guimba Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Nueva Ecija, meanwhile, received PHP780,000 for the enhancement of their mushroom production and handicrafts-making using dried water lily stalks.

The DOLE’s 84th foundation anniversary banners the theme, “Trabahong Marangal para sa Lahat, Sabay-sabay Nating Iangat.