PAGADIAN CITY, ZDS- The DOLE Zamboanga del Sur Field Office (DOLE-ZDSFO) initiated the release of 2.7 million pesos to benefit 90 informal sector workers in Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur on July 7, 2023, under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

DOLE-9 Regional Director Albert E. Gutib led the turnover of Livelihood cheque to the Accredited Co-Partner (ACP) Local Government Unit of Lakewood, headed by Mayor Domingo Mirrar at the Municipal Session Hall, Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur.

Mayor Domingo Mirrar expressed his heartfelt gratitude to DOLE 9 for providing livelihood assistance to the communities previously identified as red barangays. He emphasized the significance of sustaining and maximizing the benefits of the program to enhance the income of the beneficiaries and urged them to take care of the assistance to fulfill its purpose. He also expressed his appreciation for the implementation of additional DOLE programs in the municipality, specifically highlighting the positive impact of SPES and TUPAD on the local community.

Battalion Commander Terence Yllanan from the 53rd Infantry “MATAPAT” Battalion (53IB) of the Philippine Army expressed gratitude to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for providing livelihood support to the residents in specific priority End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) communities.

The said assistance is intended to alleviate the plight of the beneficiaries by making them self-sustainable individuals through provision of livelihood tools, equipment and kits on farming, fishing, masonry, welding, carpentry, printing and photocopying, baking and pastries, bibingka making and cosmetology.

DILP or Kabuhayan Program is the DOLE’s contribution to the governments’ agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and substantial poverty reduction. It seeks to reduce the vulnerability to risks of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers by providing them access to a grant assistance for capacity-building on livelihood ventures either for individual or group undertakings. END/with reports from YAAbduhasad,ZSFO