The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood
Program (SLP) does not just give outright cash assistance for livelihood but instead focuses on helping individuals and associations prepare, learn, and grow so they can manage and sustain their start-ups as stable sources of income, an agency official said.

Director Miramel Laxa of the agency’s SLP said eligible participants go through a step-by-step process that includes social preparation, financial literacy training, and capacity-building activities before they receive any form of livelihood support.

“Hindi po ito outright cash, nag-undergo po muna ng social preparation and that includes
capacity building in managing a project at financial education para alam din po nila kung papaano patakbuhin ang pinansya nila,” Director Laxa said, citing as a good example the soon-to-be turned-over disability-friendly e-buses to persons with disabilities association under SLP.

The provision of electric vehicles is under the DSWD’s SLP Persons with Disabilities – Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) Project, which aims to provide livelihood grants to persons with disabilities in SLPAs to purchase electric vehicles that are disability-friendly.

According to Director Laxa, the Persons with Disabilities SLPAs received the seed capital
fund after completing the social preparation, ensuring that projects are not only relevant to the beneficiaries but also more sustainable in the long term.

“After the social preparation na ginawa po sa kanila, doon na iginawad yung seed capital fund na nagkakahalaga ng Php2.2 million to each SLPA,” the SLP director said.

The members of the SLPAs are the ones who manage and operate the service units in
coordination with the Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines Incorporated, which also provided financial support to the SLPAs as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“Yung Php2.2 million seed capital fund na ibinigay natin sa bawat SLPA, tinapatan yon
ng GET PH. Kasi ang isa pong electronic bus ay nagkakahalaga ng Php4.5 million,” Director Laxa explained.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian is expected to lead the ceremonial turnover and blessing of the 20 electric vehicles to persons with disabilities SLPAs at the Amoranto Sports Center in Quezon City on June 27.

The SLP is the DSWD’s capability-building program that provides opportunities to access
and acquire livelihood assets to the poor, vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized sectors to improve their socio-economic conditions. (YADP)