BUTUAN CITY – A total of P1.5 Million livelihood fund is released today, January 31, 2012 to 170 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. Seven (7) Self-Employment Assistance –Kaunlaran Associations (SKAs) comprising beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya have been organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the support from the provincial and municipal governments.

Vice Mayor Frederick Mark P. Mellana warmly welcomed the participants. In his talk, he assured the beneficiaries and the DSWD of the Sangguniang Bayan’s support under his leadership.

During the program,beneficiaries were challenged by the officials who attended the check distribution held at the municipal gymnasium.  Mrs. Angelita Amista, DSWD Caraga Chief of the Operations Division exhorted the recipients to show to the government that they are responsible and credible to be entrusted of livelihood capital seed fund.

After informing the beneficiaries that the municipal government has allocated P250 thousand in support to DSWD’s livelihood program for 2012, Mayor Albin D. Magdamit told them “the success of the program lies in your hands and not with DSWD, municipal or provincial government.”

Vice Governor Santiago Cane shared insights in managing a business because he himself is a businessman. “Business at the stage of infancy if abused will crash,” told Cane to the beneficiaries.

Provincial social Welfare Officer Flor Obani challenged the beneficiaries to refrain or rally stop gambling. “We should use our time in useful and productive activities like your business funded by the SEA-K.”

“You can do some things alone but you cannot do everything alone,” SB Ritchie Tumulak, Chairperson Social Services Committee, shared this saying to the beneficiaries.  An SKA has 25-30 members and these members have to be responsible in making their chosen livelihood activities succeed.

As a response, Johna Dagatan, Lucena SKA President,   expressed that “the obligation and responsibility is not only to us but also to other people.”  She also challenged her co-beneficiaries to be good stewards of the money entrusted to them.  ### (Social Marketing Unit)