SURIGAO CITY – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor A. Dollaga and Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers led the turnover of livelihood grants and Civil Society Organization (CSO) Accreditation certificates to 28 associations of the municipalities of Alegria, Claver, Gigaquit, Mainit, Placer, San Francisco (Anao-aon), and Surigao City held at Balay Surigaonon, Capitol Compound in Surigao City on January 24, 2022.

The provision of livelihood grants to associations in conflict-vulnerable areas is part of the Department’s implementation of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Each association was given a grant of PhP300,000 to fund their proposed livelihood activity.

Director Dollaga assured the program participants and the Provincial Local Government Unit that the Field Office will closely monitor the progress of the associations and their respective livelihood projects and provide necessary technical assistance.

Aside from Dollaga, Governor Barbers also shared a few words during the activity and encouraged the associations to utilize wisely the grants given to them by the government. He said that the beneficiaries have the responsibility to maximize this opportunity to its full potential.

The Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) is the country’s government program and framework centered on peace and development. It eyes to extend development intervention to far-flung and conflict-vulnerable communities in the country. In DSWD, it is the Sustainable Livelihood Program tasked to implement livelihood interventions. (Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)