A total of 91 Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) composed of farmers and agri-vendors from Pangasinan received Php38 million in seed capital fund from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday (March 25).
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the ceremonial turnover of checks under the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Close to 2,000 local farmers and agri-vendors will benefit from the capital assistance fund.
The DSWD chief said this initiative is more than a financial relief and a part of the agency’s ‘development’ mandate aimed at uplifting people out of poverty by giving them the means to explore entrepreneurship and viable source of
livelihood.
“Ang buong pangalan ng Department namin, Department of Social Welfare and Development. ‘Yung social welfare yan ‘yung para sa mabilisan na kailangan ng residente, pero mas importante yung development. Development ay yung gumagawa kami ng program na pangmatagalan para maiahon natin ang ating mga kababayan mula sa kahirapan,” Secretary Gatchalian told the SLPAs at the Rosales Agricultural Trading Center.
The funding support is a start-up capital granted to the SLPAs to enable them to purchase tools, raw materials, common service facilities, and other assets needed as they start or expand their microenterprises.
“Importante yung ayuda pero initiatives like this hinges on the idea na dapat meron tayong pangmatagalan na solusyon sa kahirapan,” the DSWD chief said.
The turnover of checks was held simultaneously with the inauguration of the newly-built Rosales Agricultural Trading Center in the province.
The trading center is a convergence project of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Abono Partylist, and the local government units (LGUs) of Rosales town and Pangasinan province.
The DSWD’s fund support is expected to strengthen the operations of the trading center, as it will assist the SPLAs as they explore livelihood opportunities at the agri-hub.
To ensure that the beneficiaries are well-guided as they tap into entrepreneurship, the DA pledged training opportunities and capacity-building initiatives, while the LGU of Rosales will also supervise the monitoring of the SLPAs.
The DSWD chief underscored that this whole-of-government initiative aims to enhance local agricultural trade, ensuring better market access and increased economic opportunities for farmers and vendors.
“Lagi ninyong naririnig kay Presidente Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na sinasabi niya ang whole-of-government approach. Buong gobyerno dapat ang kumikilos para matulungan ang mamamayan, kasi hindi kaya ng isang departamento lamang. Kailangan magsanib pwersa ang lahat ng departamento para matulungan kayo,” the DSWD chief emphasized.
Secretary Gatchalian also vowed that the DSWD will continue to partner with key agencies to bolster livelihood support
among vulnerable communities and transform them as leaders and drivers of economic opportunities and development.
“Makakaasa kayo ng mas marami pang ganitong programa na ibaba ang DSWD kasama ang DA at mga local government units natin,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
Also present at the event were DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and DA Regional Office 1 Director John Pascual; Governor Ramon Guico III and Vice Governor Mark Ronald Labino of Pangasinan; Representative Robert Raymund Estrella of Abono Partylist; and Municipal Mayor William Cezar of Rosales.
Secretary Gatchalian was accompanied by Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan of DSWD Field Office 1-Ilocos Region.
The SLP is the DSWD’s capacity-building program for the identified poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities aimed at providing viable interventions and support to improve the program participants’ socio-economic conditions by accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods. (LSJ)