The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, together with key officials of the Municipalities of Trento and San Luis in Agusan del Sur, recently held a Project and Check turnovers in the aforesaid towns.

SLP turned over two associations to the local government unit (LGU) of Trento which are the Angat Manat and Angat Kapatungan SLP Associations (SLPA). Angat Manat is an association that ventures in the buying and selling of agricultural farm products, while the Angat Kapatungan invests in rice and agrivet supplies.

On the other hand, the program turned over Php510,000.00 worth of seed capital to the Angat Buhay SLP Association, also from the same municipality, which will set out to build a commercial property business that will soon be open for occupancy.

“We will make good use of this capital; we will thrive hard to set our association as the manifestation of all associations in Trento,” Angat Buhay President Eden Ngoho said.

To top it all, two newly established associations from San Luis acquired projects from SLP, which are the DPS Rentals SLP Association and Hugpong Doña Maxima SLP Association. Both received start-up capital amounting to Php345,000.00 apiece. The turnover benefited some 46 SLPA members, including senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

“We found it really difficult to take on this project. But, with the help of our partners and our own diligence, we will tend to it, grow it, and develop it. To DSWD, SLP, and LGU San Luis, on behalf of our entire association, thank you so much,” DPS Rentals SLPA President Mary Jean Castro remarked during her acceptance message.

This ceremonial turnover signifies the efforts of not just DSWD but also its partners, particularly the LGUs, to promote sustainable living to its constituents, especially those who are at the margins of society.