The PHP195.9 million fund under the sustainable livelihood program (SLP) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6 (Western Visayas) has benefitted 19,684 recipients coming from poor, marginalized, and disadvantaged sectors and those listed in the Listahanan Poor Households as of their November 4 data.

“(The) SLP is a capacity-building for poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities to help improve their socio-economic conditions,” Willardo O. Ochon, DSWD-6 SLP Social Marketing Officer said in a media forum on Thursday.

He said the program has two tracks composed of micro-enterprise development where funds amounting to PHP15,000 is provided to each recipient for seed capital or for skills training that they propose and employment facilitation where the recipient can avail of a PHP5,000 grant as employment assistance fund or PHP15,000 for skills training fund.

In his presentation, Ochon said of the total released grant, the SLP that was intended for the livelihood assistance grant has the highest disbursement with PHP166.538 million.

“This is aligned with the provision of livelihood aid for the recovery and rehabilitation of the sources of income of our participants affected by the community lockdown or pandemic as a whole,” he said.

He added that this year, most recipients were from Negros Occidental and Iloilo.

Ochon added that the implementation of the program is being monitored by the project development officers to look into its sustainability. (PNA)