CABARROGUIS, Quirino (PIA) - - The Department of Labor and Employment- Quirino Field Office (DOLE-QFO) recently awarded P1,576,375 million worth of DOLE Integrated Livelihood Project starter kits to some 55 entrepreneurs from the six towns here.

The starter kits which include tools, equipment, and raw materials has an amount ranging from P20,000.00 to P30,000.00 each depending on the projects of the beneficiaries.

Among their projects are Furniture Making, Electrical Services, Carpentry Services, Automotive Repair Shop, Ulam Vending, CCTV and Fire Alarm Installation, Welding Shop, Street Foods and Meryenda Vending, Tailoring, Dried Beans Vending, Motorcycle Services, Beauty Care Services, Donut and papaya pickle, Basic Commodities Vending, Meat Processing, Welding Services, Bread and Pastry production, Native Cakes Vending, Veggie Noodles Production, Rice Retailing, and Ice Cream Vending.

There were six beneficiaries are from Aglipay, nine from Cabarroguis, six from Diffun, 14 from Maddela, 15 from Nagtipunan and five from Saguday.

Evangeline Singson, a 45 year-old seamstress from barangay Villamor, Cabarroguis who received an electric sewing machine said that the assistance is a big help for her saying that she is presently using a manual sewing machine.

"With this electric sewing machine, my work will become easier and I will be more productive as I can already sew more dresses for my clients,” Singson said as she expressed her gratitude to the DOLE.

Another beneficiary, Jeffrey Corpuz, an ice cream vendor from Saguday who received an ice cream maker said he is very thankful to the DOLE for making his ice cream vending business easier and more productive.

“Before, I am preparing my ice cream manually with the use of ice but now, I can already make more ice cream through this machine,” Corpuz said.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Carmen Jimenez and Economic Enterprises Officer Elmor Villaruel took turns in expressing thanks to DOLE on behalf of Governor Dax Cua and Cong. Junie Cua.

Assistant Regional Director Elpidio Atal, Jr. who represented Regional Director Joel Mendoza said that the awarding is a triumph of not only one public office, but the collective efforts as a whole.

For her part, DOLE-QFO Head Diciano urged the small business owners to avail of the program saying that the Department aims to give assistance to as many qualified beneficiaries from the province as the DOLE’s funding may allow. (MDCT/TCB/PIA Quirino)