In its commitment to alleviate hunger in the country, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga handed over livelihood grants to two associations in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur and San Luis, Agusan del Sur, just recently.
Through the Zero Hunger Program of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the Cabugan Informal Settlers SLP Association of Barangay Telaje, Tandag City received a grant amounting to Php420,000 on November 18, 2022, to establish a rice trading project.
The second group, Backyard Goat Raisers SLP Association, acquired an amount of Php450,000 on November 21, 2022, from the program to start dairy goat production.
To prepare and equip the members of Cabugan Informal Settlers SLPA, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Caraga conducted skills enhancement training to ensure they have sufficient knowledge on how to manage their livelihood.
In her message, Cabugan Informal Settlers SLPA President Josefina Amoguis expressed her gratitude to the agency and promised to extend help to their community once their livelihood flourishes.
“Salamat sa DSWD nga wala namo damha nga madawat ang grant ug karon na i-turnover na sa amo ang project. Pag mutubo na ang negosyo, kami napud ang mutabang sa uban (Thank you so much DSWD especially that we did not expect that we will receive this grant immediately and that this project will be turned over to us. Once our livelihood expands, it will be our turn to give back and help others).”
As for the Backyard Goat Raisers SLPA, the livelihood grant will cover the following: establishment of a dairy goat shelter and facility, preparation of forage development, procurement of feeds, vitamins, and other necessary materials for the completion of the dairy goat production project. Further, the Department of Agriculture-National Dairy Authority, in partnership with the Provincial Veterinary Office of Agusan del Sur, provided the association with 50 heads of dairy goats and 2 bucks to start their small livelihood.
DSWD-SLP’s Zero Hunger Program Convergence Budgeting Project is a special poverty reduction project that aims to mitigate hunger and help people’s organizations and their families to improve by providing them with livelihood opportunities that will capacitate them. (Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)