At least 32 local associations in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte received financial grants from the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Region 13 (DSWD-13) during a turnover in Dapa town on Thursday.

The grants, amounting to PHP14.2 million, were released through the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and “serve as a seed capital fund for the associations to finance their proposed livelihood projects,” DSWD-13 said in a statement.

Eight groups from Dapa town got livelihood grant of PHP3.4 million, while 12 groups from the towns of Burgos, San Benito and San Isidro received PHP5.4 million.

Another 12 associations from the municipalities of Del Carmen, General Luna, Pilar and Santa Monica also got PHP5.4 million grant.

“Most of the livelihood projects of the 32 associations are focused on trading and manufacturing,” Mariel Camba, the DSWD-13 SLP social marketing officer, said in an interview.

Camba said SLP helps beneficiaries boost productivity through different livelihood projects. (PNA)