TANDAG CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Caraga, together with the Provincial Government of Surigao del Sur, distributed a total of P25.5M as livelihood grants to 83 Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) associations in Tandag City, on February 3.

Field Office Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor A. Dollaga, Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander T. Pimentel, and 1st District Representative Romeo S. Momo led the distribution of grants and awarding of Civil Society Organization (CSO) accreditation certificates to the program participants. They were joined by Asst. Regional Director for Operations Jean Paul S. Parajes, Madrid Mayor Juan Paolo L. Lopez, San Miguel Mayor Michael T. Corilla, and other local government unit representatives.

Providing livelihood assistance to the associations is part of the DSWD-SLP’s implementation of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) and the Zero Hunger Project. Specifically, a total of 76 associations were funded under PAMANA and 7 others under Zero Hunger.

Each association under PAMANA-SLP received a grant of PhP300,000, while the associations funded through the Zero Hunger Project acquired grants ranging from PhP270,000-PhP450,000. The livelihood grants distributed will be used by the associations to establish the livelihood activities that they have proposed.

Before the turnover of livelihood grants, Director Dollaga also paid a courtesy visit to Governor Pimentel to discuss the agency’s program implementation in the province and the Field Office’s future plans for the province.

Director Dollaga assured the province that the agency would continue its efforts and commitment to providing quality service to the constituents of Surigao del Sur, through its various programs and services such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations and Sustainable Livelihood Program. She also thanked the province, under the leadership of Governor Pimentel, for their support to the Department.

In response, Governor Pimentel expressed his gratitude to the Field Office as well and said that the province would never cease to show its support to DSWD. Pimentel also emphasized that being a province rich in agriculture, he hopes that the agency will implement more programs for the farmers and fisherfolks in the province this year. (Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)