The Department of Social Welfare on Development (DSWD) on Wednesday said it has recently extended livelihood assistance to beneficiaries in the town of Calinog in Iloilo province.

In a statement, the DSWD said the grant is part of the Executive Order (EO) No. 70 which provides for a whole of nation approach by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) in fighting insurgency.

DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive and Sustainable Peace Alan Tanjusay led the ceremonial payout of the capital fund worth PHP1.5 million to five Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) associations in identified Conflict-Affected and Vulnerable Areas (CVAs) in Calinog on Sept. 8.

Each SLP association received PHP300,000 to start their proposed social enterprises, which include agricultural supplies enterprise and basic commodities merchandising.

The provision of the capital funds is the second track component of the DSWD’s implementation of EO 70 which is directed toward ensuring the delivery of social services to communities in CVAs.

Meanwhile, the offices of Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go also released PHP500,000 worth of livelihood assistance grants to 50 beneficiaries from Calinog.

The recipients of the grants, who received PHP10,000 each, were small-scale business owners, agricultural vendors, indigenous people, solo parents, senior citizens, and persons with disability.

This serves as additional capital for the existing enterprises of beneficiaries who were affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Aside from the ceremonial payout, Tanjusay and program partners also visited the Binolosan Grande livelihood association in the town’s Barangay Binolosan Grande.

The members of the association harvest locally-grown bananas which they sell in nearby municipalities as part of their social enterprise. (PNA)