ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 thru its Isabela City Field Office gave new hope to food vendors of Isabela City, Basilan Province by providing them with NegoKarts or mobile food carts during the grand opening of the James Walter Strong Boulevard on March 9, 2021.

A total of 40 mobile traders or street food vendors were given brand new NegoKarts worth Php 30,000.00 each under DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

DOLE 9 Regional Director Atty. Roy L. Buenafe, in his message of support to Isabeleños, said “DOLE 9 is deeply honored to be part of Isabeleños’ success. With the provision of livelihood assistance, we are able to help augment the income of our informal workers and give them alternative employment.”

The Nego Kart Project is DOLE’s initiative to provide ambulant vendors
with service/assistance that will enable them to increase, upgrade and/or diversify their products or services and market these to a greater number of buyers or customers.

In Isabela City, the project will assist the men and women vendors in making their existing livelihood undertakings grow into profitable businesses as they are strategically placed near the City’s town square and leisure area.

The re-opening of the boulevard is in line with the 47th Founding Anniversary of the Island Province of Basilan thru Tennun Basilan Pakaradjaan 2021 and the celebration of the International Women’s Month.

Led by Isabela de Basilan Mayor Sitti Djalia A. Turabin-Hataman, the grand launching event was attended by Department of Tourism’s (DOT) Assistant Secretary and concurrent Regional Director IX ASec Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar, Basilan Vice Governor Hon. Yusop Alano and Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Rosebell Sanson represented the Provincial Government of the Island Province of Basilan as well as local leaders of the city. . END