Butuan City – The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Caraga recently conducted a two-day training on Product Enhancement and Marketing to beneficiaries and member of the project staff, Dec. 11-12, Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center.

The purpose of the activity was to help beneficiaries of the program to improve on their crafts and to be more competitive in the market.

The 285 participants who attended the activity included the beneficiaries of the PantawidPamilya and the newly-hired project development officers (PDOs) from the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and the Province of Dinagat Islands.

Among the beneficiaries present was the SKA Federation president Evelyn Inosente from Sibagat, Agusandel Sur who inspired other beneficiaries, she said “SLP greatly aided us in getting to where we are right now – we are happy that our group is now maintaining an abaca plantation and a small-scale electric power plant in Sitio Bantolinao, Barangay Padiay.”

“The best thing about the SLP program is that it captures social enterprise wherein we do not only engage beneficiaries for their personal profit but looking into the effects of this engagement to the whole community,” Roy R. Serdena, program head, explained.

Representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Caraga and from private business sectors also participated in the said activity as part of the pool of speakers on product development, design trends, packaging materials and branding, and marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, Sustainable Livelihood Program Congress also showcased the best practices and best products among the beneficiaries throughout the region. This year’s theme “Kahirapan ay Puksain, Permanenteng Kabuhayan ay Palaguin,” focused on the alleviation of poverty in the region through sustainable livelihood program interventions such as capability building, training, and provision of capital assistance. ### (Social Marketing Unit)