The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has rolled out livelihood assistance to residents involved in the pyrotechnics/fireworks industry in Bocaue, Bulacan whose business were affected by the pandemic.

The move was part of the DTIs’ Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG), a livelihood seeding and entrepreneurship development program that aims to help micro enterprises affected by calamities, including health disasters, such as the pandemic, to restart their businesses.

At least 36 beneficiaries of the program received some PHP10,000 worth of livelihood package in a ceremony held in a gymnasium in Bocaue on Friday.

“Sa ngalan po ng pamahalaan bayan ng Bocaue, ako po ay nagpapasalamat sa DTI, sa pagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal sa bawat nagnenegosyo ng paputok dito sa ating bayan (On behalf of the municipal government of Bocaue, I would like to thank the DTI for providing financial assistance to every firework enterprises here in our town),” Mayor Jose Santiago said on social media.

Santiago asked his constituents to follow the rules of the DTI so they could be allowed to avail of the program again.

“Sana sumunod po tayo sa panuntunan ng DTI para makaulit po tayo. Hopefully, by next year ay mapalad na mabigyan tayong muli (I hope that you will follow the DTI’s rules so that we could be given aid again. Hopefully, by next year, we will be lucky to be given assistance again),” he said.

Santiago likewise assured the beneficiaries of the municipal government’s support to improve the fireworks industry.

The recipients of the livelihood kits thanked the DTI for the program, which they said gave them hope during the pandemic.

“Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat sa binigay na tulong ng DTI. Dahil kami po ay nawalan ng hanapbuhay, malaking tulong ito (We are very grateful for the assistance extended by the DTI. Because we lost our source of livelihood, this is a great help to us),” said Domingo Quiambao, one of the beneficiaries of the program.

DTI 3 (Central Luzon) Assistant Director Leonila Baluyut earlier said some 373 micro-entrepreneurs in the region have benefited from the program as of last October.

“The micro-entrepreneurs are the most affected during the pandemic where some of them closed or reduced their workforce,” Baluyut said.

Aside from the livelihood kits, she said the program beneficiaries were likewise given training to help them start, develop, innovate, and promote their businesses. (PNA)

Photo Credit: www.pia.gov.ph