CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-A total of 85 parents of former child laborers from a city and town in Bulacan recently received P425,000 worth of livelihood assistance given by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under its Kabuhayan Starter KITS program.
Of the total amount, P275,000 was allocated for beneficiaries in Towerville Resettlement Livelihood Center, Minuyan, San Jose Del Monte City while the remaining P150,000 was meant for residents in barangay Tangos, Baliuag town.
Each beneficiary was given a start-up kit, which can be used for sari-sari store, barbecue and palamig, mini carinderia, rice trading, rag/doormat retailing, kakanin, balot vending, tailoring, fish and vegetable, repacking of condiments, and ready to wear clothing in order to engage them in sustainable self-employment.
In a message, DOLE Regional Director Ana Dione said that through the provision of these, they are looking forward at empowering Bulakenyo beneficiaries by helping them manage and sustain their small start-up business in order to help their families.
“In this way, their children will no longer be compelled to work to make both ends meet and instead could focus on their education and enjoy their youth,” Dione stressed.
Speaking in behalf of the recipients, ambulant vendor and mother of six Lyne Panganiban expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the starter kits that she called as big blessings of hope.
“Thank you for providing us with a source of livelihood to augment our daily needs. Rest assured that we would enrich what you have given us. May you continuously help more poor families who want to improve their lives,” Panganiban said.
Meanwhile, the local governments of San Jose Del Monte and Baliuag provided their counterpart assistance in the form of Entrepreneurship Development Training.
Starter KITS is DOLE’s way of opening more opportunities by empowering each Filipino worker to venture into entrepreneurship through our integrated livelihood programs to improve their lives. (Marie Joy L. Simpao)
