QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – Some 35 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) graduated households were recently awarded with over P1M worth of livelihood packages in a simple rites held at the Sanctuary Center, Barangay Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City.

The Department of Labor and Employment – National Capital Region (DOLE-NCR), in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Mandaluyong City local government, distributed 28 Bigasan Packages, 2 Karinderia Packages, 1 Tailoring Package, and 4 NegoKarts to profiled beneficiaries— amounting to P30k each livelihood package.

Asst. Regional Director Atty. Jude Thomas P. Trayvilla, on behalf of the DOLE-NCR Regional Director Atty. Sarah Buena S. Mirasol, took part in the awarding ceremony and extended his inspirational message.

Trayvilla said the livelihood packages aims to sustain the recipient’s improved status of living that will lead them to create clear possibilities for success.

“Itong ipinagkaloob na livelihood packages, sana ay makatulong sa paglago ng estado ng inyong buhay,” Trayvilla said.

“Let us create a society where livelihood flourishes and the labor of each individual becomes a shining testament to the resilience and boundless possibilities of the human spirit,” he added.

One of the beneficiaries, Adoracion Mañalac, 50 years old, was awarded with a Bigasan Package expressed gratefulness over the livelihood package given to her family.

“Nagpapasalamat ako dahil napili kami ng prebilehiyo na mabigyan ng negosyo. Nawa ang mabibigay niyo po samin ay mapagyaman po namin,” she uttered.

Adoracion, recalled her family’s life was considerably different before becoming 4Ps beneficiary.

She said her experiences as social welfare beneficiary wa put into good use as community health worker in Barangay Vergara, Mandaluyong City. Adoracion used to collect garbage.

 “Nagpapasalamat ako sa DSWD. Sana hindi lang sa akin o sa aming grupo ang pagtulong. Nawa marami pa silang matulungan, marami pang pumasok na bagong 4Ps member, marami pa silang mabigyan ng tulon,” she said.

Adoracion and the other graduated households will no longer receive monthly cash assistance as 4Ps beneficiaries,  but the DOLEA and the city’s social welfare  will help them by providing the necessary assistance to sustain the livelihood package given to them.

“Wala na po tayo sa 4Ps, wala na po tayo aasahan na monthly payout. Pagugulungin nalang po natin kung ano po yung nasa sa atin. Sana po lahat tayo ay magtagumpay sa ating papasukin,” Adoracion said.

Another recipient of a livelihood package

Another recipient of a livelihood package Rosa Caliguiran said the assistance will give them the chance to have additional income aside from the income gained from their existing business.

“Thank you very much sa DOLE sa ibinigay niyo sa amin na tulong pangkabuhayan. Sa tagal ng panahon, sa hirap ng buhay, malaking bagay ang aming natanggap na ganitong pagkakataon na pang-business,” a 60-year-old mother said.

Rosa’s family used to live in her relative’s house prior to being 4Ps beneficiary. From the assistance and knowledge gained a a beneficiary of the government’s anti-poverty program, they were able to rise from the hardship and was also able to have a decent home they now call their own.

“Ang dating buhay namin ay walang-wala talaga. Andiyan ‘yung aabutin kami ng baha kasi nasa silong lang kami ng bahay. Kaya nung pinasok kami sa 4Ps at kami naman ay natulungan, unti-unting umunlad din ang aming pamumuhay,” Rosa shared.

“Kaya maraming salamat sa 4Ps at DOLE kasi dumating sa aming buhay na makatanggap ng ganitong halaga na biyaya,” she added.

TUPAD and Livelihood Focal Person and Senior Labor and Employment Officer (LEO) Aurora E. Halcon said the livelihood package recipients are truly  blessed  in receiving such assistance.

“Pahalagahan ninyo dahil napakasuwerte niyo. Out of 200,000 [barangay members], may [35] na nakakuha nitong [livelihood packages] kasi hindi naman namin kayang ibigay lahat,” Halcon said.

 “Wala kayong ibabalik na kahit isang sentimo sa amin, pero ang responsibilidad niyo ay i-sustain ‘yung project na ‘yan. Kailangan ma-sustain niyo ‘yan at makita namin na tuloy-tuloy ng dalawa [hanggang] tatlong taon,” Halcon added.

Mandaluyong City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Head Milagros R. Lagaran also advised former 4Ps beneficiaries to manage their business well.

“Napakapalad niyo dahil nabigyan kayo ng ganiyan. Isa na pong blessing na napili kayo. Marami pong naghahangad pero hindi po nagkaroon katulad ninyo ng prebilehiyo na magkaroon ng ganiyan,” said Mandaluyong CSWD Head.

Lagaran said they will monitor the livelihood package recipients along with DOLE-NCR’s Employment Promotion and Workers Welfare Division (EPWW) to ensure that they are managing their business well.

Lagaran said, the CSWD-Mandaluyong is also planning to provide training, particularly in business management, to secure beneficiaries’ success.

“So, sana po i-cherish po natin ‘yan [livelihood package], pagyamanin po natin ‘yan. Sana hindi masayang,” Lagaran added.

The 35 4Ps graduated households from Mandaluyong City are the first recipients of livelihood package given by the DOLE-NCR for this year. (pia-ncr)