ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-9 turned-over some P13.5-million worth of PAMANA livelihood assistance to recipient-people’s organizations in Isabela City recently.In a symbolic turnover ceremony held here early this month, Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar, together with SLP PAMANA Regional Project Coordinator Elizabeth L. Saavedra led in the distribution of symbolic checks to some 45 beneficiary-Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations.
Each beneficiary-association received P300 thousand as seed capital for its livelihood.
Mayor Akbar expressed her gratitude to the DSWD and the Office of the President for the livelihood project that is being implemented through the PAMANA (Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
“This is not anymore a dream because the money is already here. The PAMANA livelihood project is already being implemented here. And we need to comply with all the needed documents in order for you (beneficiaries) to be able to use the available funds already deposited in your accounts,” the mayor said.
The mayor recounted that starting with the project was very challenging. She said there were lots of problems encountered and many issues and complaints surfaced at the start of the project. She did not elaborate, however.
“We are thankful that we are able to address the many concerns in implementing the project. With the help of the PAMANA workers, who guided the different beneficiary-associations, the project is finally here,” the mayor said.
The mayor reminded the beneficiaries and other stakeholders, like the Barangay officials that the funds is intended solely for livelihood and that every member of the organization has a stake in the control and decision making processes of the organizations.
“With the difficulty in life, only the government can provide us with the needed capital to start a livelihood or business, which involves a lot of procedure and requirements in order to acquire the needed funds,” the mayor said, as she asked the beneficiaries to take care of the resources given by the government and to use the funds responsibly.
“You are accountable to the funds,” she stressed.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth L. Saavedra told the participants that the project was made possible through the joint efforts of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), the DSWD, and the local government units (LGUs).
Saavedra challenged the beneficiaries to prove to the government that they are worthy of its support and assistance. She affirmed the mayor’s statement saying that the funds are subject to auditing regulations and scrutiny.
The DSWD said that the objective of PAMANA-SLP is to strengthen community resilience to conflict by improving the socio-economic capacity of the community-beneficiaries. With this, the DSWD forged a partnership with OPAPP to implement PAMANA, the government’s peace and development program that shall respond and strengthen peace-building, reconstruction and development in conflict affected and vulnerable areas under the core principle of inclusivity and participatory, anchored on the community-driven enterprise development approach.