The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is being pushed to become a permanent, long-term solution to poverty beyond short-term aid.

During a public hearing on Tuesday of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo said government interventions should go beyond temporary aid and focus on sustainable income opportunities.

“Hindi sapat na tugunan lamang ang agarang pangangailangan… Ang mga ayuda po ay pansamantala lamang po yan… band-akd solution lamang po (It is not enough to address immediate needs… aid is only temporary… it is just a Band-Aid solution),” he said.

He said the program should be institutionalized to ensure continuity across administrations.

“We need to institutionalize this program… kahit na wala na ho tayo dito (even if we are no longer here)… this program will still be here under the DSWD,” he added.

The SLP provides capital assistance, skills training and market support to help beneficiaries establish or expand livelihood projects.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Edmon Monteverde said the program has served 4.1 million beneficiaries since 2011, with a 78.86 percent success rate among the 1.2 million monitored.

“1.2 million po yung na-monitor namin and 78.86 percent po yung success rate (1.2 million were monitored and the success rate is 78.86 percent),” Monteverde said.

However, he acknowledged gaps in monitoring due to limited manpower and resources.

“Unang una po, we have lack of administrative cost… hindi talaga kayang i-cover yung total na 4.1 million (First, we lack administrative resources… we cannot fully cover the total 4.1 million beneficiaries),” he said.

He added that natural calamities, internal organizational issues, and beneficiary relocation are among the factors affecting project outcomes, prompting the DSWD to introduce refinancing mechanisms for affected livelihood projects.

Tulfo said institutionalizing the SLP would also require increased funding, particularly for hiring more personnel to strengthen monitoring and implementation.

The Department of Budget and Management said funding support may be provided subject to evaluation of the proposed measure.

The Senate panel said the move aims to establish a sustained system that will help Filipinos build stable sources of income and reduce dependence on government aid. (PNA)