SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) -- Rena Mae Joy Martinez, a young mother of three children, was struggling to hide her excitement as she waited for her name to be called in the distribution of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment.

Martinez was among the 1,394 residents from various towns in Antique who were chosen to benefit from the labor department’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

Martinez said she will use the aid to reopen her sari-sari (retail) store which was among those affected by the recent pandemic.

“Nagapasalamat gid ako sa DOLE nga ginbalik nanda ang akun tiangge nga gin-close ko sa darwa ka tuig tungod wara ako ti kapital nga gamiton (I am thankful to DOLE for reviving my sari-sari store which I closed down for two years [during the pandemic] due to a lack of capital),” she said.

Now, with her sari-sari store, she promised to grow her small business to finance the educational needs of her children and augment her husband's income as a fisherman.

Requintina added that the DOLE is committed to providing social protection to other vulnerable sectors by implementing various programs and services of the department including the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) or emergency employment program benefiting at least 32,211 beneficiaries last year. 

families with livelihood support and coordinating with other agencies that are assisting these families.

The “Project Angel Tree” also helped 241 children in the towns of Bugasong, Pandan, and Tibiao, who received various goods and school supplies from the sponsors or benefactors (referred to as angels) to child laborers and their families. 

Watch and listen to Pagpaathag every Wednesday from 11:30 am to 12:00 nn over Radyo Natin San Jose Antique. (AGP/PSM/PIA Antique)