The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) handed over a total of Php 44.45 million worth of assistance to the beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and to the municipalities overseeing the implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) and the distribution of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens in Batangas.

During the ceremonial awarding on October 27 in Lian town, DSWD Operations Group Undersecretary Jerico Javier led the distribution of Php 15,000 livelihood assistance grant to each of the 148 SLP beneficiaries from Lian and Calatagan, Batangas.

The DSWD, through the SLP, helps micro and small enterprise owners and provides assistance to eligible low-income families or those from the informal sector whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic and the implementation of community quarantines.

The Department also transferred Php12.61 million to the local government unit of Lian; Php 14.16 million to Nasugbu; Php12.27 million to Calatagan; and Php 3.15 million to Balayan for the implementation of SFP and distribution of Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens.

“Ang tulong na ibinibigay namin ay simula pa lang. Nagiging ganap lamang ang tuluy-tuloy na tulong dahil sa husay at tiwala sa lokal na pamahalaan (The assistance that we are providing is just the beginning. Continuous assistance is only possible because of the capacity and trust in local government),” Undersecretary Javier said.

The more than Php 44 million funds provided by the Department will serve some 16,945 beneficiaries in the four municipalities of Batangas. ###