Five tourism workers’ and fisherfolk associations have received a total of PHP3.1 million grant from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to boost their livelihood.

In an interview on Monday, Bolinao tourism officer Mary de Guzman-Suarez said the amount will be used by the recipients to purchase additional equipment.

Specifically, the tour guide association will be given starter kits for tour guiding like lapels and hats, the Daing (dried fish) Association and the Bolinao Fisherfolk Association will be given fishing paraphernalia, and the boat operators association will receive recreational water equipment like crystal kayaks and banana boats.

“For the Bolinao Falls Association, they will have a water refilling station project. Instead of them buying bottled waters, they are the ones who are going to supply the bottled waters in their community and at the water falls areas and it will be their livelihood as well,” de Guzman-Suarez said.

The grant was awarded to the beneficiaries during a ceremony at the Bolinao municipal hall on Monday, and will be downloaded to the local government unit for the procurement of the equipment, she said.

“We are very happy to have received the grant for Bolinao alone. It will be beneficial to them for sustaining operational expenses for the associations to be self-sustaining,” she added.

Last year, the buri (a type of palm) weaving and binungey (rice cake) making associations received PHP500,000 worth of equipment from DOLE. (PNA)