DOLE gives P1.3-M for group, low wage earners

BONTOC Mayor Jerome “ Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., receives from DOLE Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra P 1, 265,693.30 check for livelihood projects of an organization and 10 individuals July 7 at the mayor’s office. Present are former Bontoc Mayor now Mountain Province Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey, DOLE regional consultant Samuel Lasdacan, Senior Labor Employment Officer lawyer Marina Cayabo, DOLE Mountain Province head Apollo Luspian, Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen, Labor Employment Officer III Jenelyn Caluza and other personnel from the DOLE- CAR. --  Jovi L. Lopez 

By Alpine L. Killa-Malwagay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – One organization and 10 individuals in this municipality are beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or Kabuhayan Program. 
    DOLE Regional Director Nathaniel Lacambra awarded the check amounting to P 1, 265,693.30 to Bontoc Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., on July 7, 2022, at the Mayor’s Office of the Bontoc Municipal Capitol. 
    Mayor Tudlong expressed his gratitude to the DOLE for continuously assisting various organizations, self-employed and minimum wage earners in Bontoc and capacitating them to generate income. With this, the mayor challenged the recipients to manage their livelihood projects wisely for it to prosper. 
    Former Bontoc Mayor and now Mountain Province Provincial Administrator Franklin Odsey, who was invited to witness the awarding of the check, congratulated the recipients for the approval of their respective project proposals. He added that the failure and success of their livelihood projects depend on how they will manage it, thus, he advised them to capacitate themselves through various trainings for it to be sustained. 
    Under the DOLE Group Livelihood Project, the beneficiary is the Silver Craft Designer Association comprising 50 members with a project on Gong Production and Blacksmith. Meanwhile, the 10 individuals have their respective projects on Sari-Sari Stores, Hog Raising, Longganisa Making, Chili Pepper Processing, Food Vending, and Enhancement of Eatery. 
    Labor and Employment Officer III Jenelyn Caluza mentioned that as its counterpart, the Bontoc LGU has earmarked from its budget an amount for the conduct of capability and skills trainings to the beneficiaries and shall conduct monitoring on the implementation of the project. Also, it provided technical assistance during the preparation of the project proposals. 
    The Kabuhayan Program is grant assistance for capacity building on livelihood to enable the unemployed, seasonal and minimum wage earners to start livelihood undertakings or income-generating projects (IGPs) and enable existing IGPs to grow into viable and sustainable businesses that provide income.
    It is implemented through DOLE’s Accredited Co-Partner (ACP) which is responsible for the delivery of services to the beneficiaries. Thus, the Bontoc LGU as an ACP of DOLE received the financial grant allotted to the recipients and shall be responsible for the procurement and delivery of equipment, materials, products, tools, and other needs of the beneficiaries for their respective livelihood projects.  
    Also present during awarding of the check are DOLE Regional Consultant Samuel Lasdacan, Senior Labor Employment Officer Atty. Marina Cayabo, DOLE Mountain Province Head Apollo Luspian, Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen, Labor Employment Officer III Jenelyn Caluza, and other personnel from the DOLE- CAR.