Lamprea said the program prioritizes exiting members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), poor and vulnerable sector, displaced, at-risk individuals, solo parents, Indigenous Peoples, former rebels and even returning overseas Filipino workers.

DSWD data showed that last year, the program served 26,003 individuals from Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental, with over PHP396.84 million in grants released to the recipients.

Of the total, 23,663 received seed capital for their chosen business, while 2,340 were given additional support to boost their livelihood projects.

The program provided PHP52 million in grants to 3,548 beneficiaries from 176 conflict-vulnerable areas under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program.

It also opened opportunities to 14,453 4Ps members.

Lamprea said that while they are open to providing grants to indThe Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is assisting indigent individuals and groups to become entrepreneurs, which is instrumental in uplifting their lives.

DSWD Western Visayas Assistant Regional Director for Operations Katherine Joy Lamprea said the projects that are given to the beneficiaries are sustainable.

“On the part of the government, this is a grant. We are very much happy to know that they are really taking care of the investment of the government,” she said in an interview on Wednesday.ividuals, they recommend having it in a group so it will have a bigger impact.

Starting this year, the grant is already PHP20,000 for every individual.

“We ensure that after providing the grants, a series of capability building activities, such as financial literacy, entrepreneurial capacity building, are provided to the beneficiaries. For the success rate, I can say it’s 60 to 70 percent for the entire Sustainable Livelihood Associations of DSWD,” she said.

DSWD Regional Director Joselito Estember, in a media forum on Tuesday, said the agency also assists beneficiaries in securing permits and licenses for their businesses to operate legally.

The region’s hosting of the National Alunsina: Kabuhayan Convention Bazaar in September last year and the opening of a showroom at the DSWD regional office last month were among the highlights of the program implementation in the region. (PNA)