The Department of Labor and Employment-Regional Office I is set to intensify the implementation of its livelihood program to bring more jobs and augment incomes of marginalized workers this year.
This was the announcement of Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra when he led the awarding of livelihood assistance packages in the Ilocos Sur province in January.
Some 357 farmers and irrigators from Vigan City and Burgos town will benefit from the P1,936,556 worth of livelihood grant under the DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program which aims to create, restore and sustain livelihood of people in the countryside.
Director Lacambra said Vigan City received a check amounting to P887,556 on January 18 for the provision of rice transplanter to six farmers’ associations from barangays Rugsuanan, Cabaroan Laud, Cabaroan Daya, Camanggaan, Purok Dakkel and Ayusan Norte. The LGU will provide the same amount for its counterpart, bringing the total project cost to P1,775,112.00.
Burgos (Ilocos Sur), on the other hand, received farm equipment worth P1,049,000 on January 23 for Sabangan Pinggan Farmers Association and Balugang Small Scale Irrigation System Association. The two projects entail a total cost of P1,311,250 with P262,250 as LGU counterpart.
Reynaldo Bitonio, 39 years old and resident of Sabangan-Pinggan, expressed his gratitude to the DOLE for the assistance, saying that the farm equipment will be useful in improving their production, while the rental fees will give them additional income.
“On behalf of the whole association, I thank the DOLE-RO I and the DOLE-Ilocos Sur Field Office for extending their help to us. Without the assistance, we would not be able to acquire the equipment which are really useful for our farming activities,” Reynaldo said.
Last year, a total of 5,199 workers in the informal sector in Region I benefited from the DILP.
“This year, we will double our efforts to deliver the anti-poverty thrust of the administration to the poorest sectors of the society,” Director Lacambra said. (DOLE Region 1)
