LIMAY, Bataan (PIA) -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of various government assistance to the residents of Bataan.
 
In his message, Marcos underscored that the government will continuously provide better services to Filipinos, especially the owners of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
“Many small businesses were forced to close and laid off their employees during the pandemic. That is why this is what we are doing— we are helping small business owners,” he said.
 
The Chief Executive mentioned that part of the initiative is to increase the production of agricultural products mainly rice, sugar, and onion, and offer them at their lowest prices to buyers.
 
With this, Marcos pledged that his administration will work in improving the lives of every Filipino and to reach the desired goals of the Philippines.
 
"Expect that the government will never forget you. If you say that you need something, we will continuously provide assistance. I hope that sooner, we will reach the situation where all of you will have jobs and sources of livelihood so that you will tell us that you will not be needing our help anymore,” he said.
 
During the program, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided a total of P6,870,000 to 229 disadvantaged workers under its Integrated Livelihood Program.
 
About 10 farmers likewise received Nego-Karts to assist them in the improvement of their existing livelihood undertaking to boost profitability and sustainability.
 
DOLE also distributed the salaries of 200 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries. A total of 10,048 disadvantaged/displaced workers will receive their salaries under TUPAD this second quarter.
 
About 91 recipients of the Special Program for Employment of Students also received 40 percent of their salary. The agency targets to give a total of P15 million worth of assistance to 1,770 youth in the province.
 
Moreover, Department of Agriculture (DA) turned over fiberglass boats, marine engines, fish paraphernalia, fisheries post-harvest equipment, milkfish fry holding facility, and fish seeds to the beneficiaries. The projects have a total cost of P5,063,766.
 
Under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Mechanization program, DA also provided two units of riding type transplanter, and five units of rice combine harvester to cooperatives and farmers associations in the towns of Orion, Orani, Hermosa, Samal and Dinalupihan.
 
DA likewise handed over to the municipality of Hermosa the P90-million fund for the improvement of Sitio Nazareno-Culis farm-to-market road, and to the municipality of Orani the P180-million budget for the construction of fish landing and trading facility.
 
Department of Social Welfare and Development, on the other hand, paid out P5,000 each to 934 beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to augment their needs for food and other necessities. 
 
AICS is part of the agency’s protective services for the poor, marginalized, vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals, and a social safety net to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crises such as illness or death of a family member, and other crisis situations.
 
It also distributed 1,000 family food packs worth P777,000 through its Food for Work program or a provision of food support in exchange for work rendered by economically poor and disaster and climate change vulnerable families and communities.
 
Meanwhile, Department of Trade and Industry awarded a total of P5,044,615 to 10 beneficiaries of the Resilient, Innovative, and Sustainable Enterprises Unleash your Powers (RISE UP) program of its attached agency- the Small Business Corporation.
 
It is a loan program geared in sustaining the gains of MSMEs that have survived the past two years of crisis by providing multi-purpose loans in soft terms and can be easily accessed.
 
Lastly, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority distributed toolkits to five graduates of Bread and Pastry Production under Special Training for Employment Scholarship Program.  
 
The kits, amounting to a total of P31,102 include oven, muffin pan, cheese grater, chef’s knife, spatula, flour sifter, measuring cup, mixing bowl, piping bags, wire whisk, bread knife, ang weighing scale. (CLJD/JLDC-PIA 3)