by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Dec 12 (PIA) – The Department of Labor and Employment in Region-IX and the local government unit of Isabela City recently distributed Kabuhayan starter kits to some 78 beneficiaries in the city.
Turned over to the beneficiaries were equipment, tools, utensils, and paraphernalia needed by the latter to start a livelihood activity.
Isabela City mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar reminded beneficiaries to value and to take good care of the things and livelihood that was given to them.
“I wish that we value what was given to us, especially the support that we acquired from DOLE to start a livelihood for ourselves, given the limited resources of the city,” Mayor Akbar said, addressing the beneficiaries as she thanked DOLE-9 for the assistance.
Wesley Tan, head of DOLE Isabela City said there are 78 beneficiaries in the city where 60 individuals are from the regular program of the Kabuhayan starter kit and 18 are people with disabilities (PWD). The number was intended to commemorate the 78th founding anniversary of DOLE this year.
He told beneficiaries that “it is in their hands” and all now depends on them and their passion to grow their business and the livelihood assistance given to them by DOLE.
Moreover, Tan said that a turn-over of cheque in the amount of P201,750,00 was also released to the Kasambuhan Association of fisher folks with Alternative Center for Organizational Reforms and Development (ACORD), Inc. as its conduit and or accredited co-partner.
DOLE-IX Regional Director Ponciano M. Ligutom said that the unemployment problems of Basilan and Isabela City in particular is spurned out of the challenges of the peace and order condition, saying that without peace there will be no investments, and therefore, no jobs. Thus, he said “the option is self-employment.”
The assistance given to fisher folks is part of DOLE’s commitment to provide employment and livelihood assistance to be funded under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP)—Integrated Services for Livelihood Advancement of the Fisher Folk (ISLA) designed to assist the fisher folks in making their existing livelihood undertakings grow into viable and sustainable business, thus improving their income to a level at par with that of the minimum wage earners.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Gemma Paculio for People with Disabilities (PWDs), Jaujan Emlan for Kasambuhan association of fisher folks, and Jenny Cruz for regular starter kit program—all thanked the DOLE for the assistance acquired.
Paculio challenged her fellow PWDs to prove to DOLE that “we are worthy to receive the livelihood assistance given to us” and hope that the next help that DOLE can provide is already employment for the handicapped persons, whom she believes has the skills worthy of a job at par with the rest of “normal” individuals. (JPA/ RVC/PIA9-ZBST)