DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – Tricycle operators and drivers in eastern Pangasinan now have an additional source of income, thanks to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 1.
DOLE awarded "bigasan" (rice retailing) livelihood assistance kits to tricycle drivers' associations in Sta. Maria and Asingan.
These kits include rice stocks and equipment to help them start their rice retail businesses.
Luis Fulgar, a project beneficiary from Sta. Maria said the "bigasan" project is a big help for drivers like him, who earn P200 to P300 daily.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa DOLE, dahil napakalaking tulong nito sa aming mga drivers dahil meron na po kaming karagdagang pagkakitaan,” Fulgar said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Pangasinan on Thursday.
(We are grateful to DOLE for this assistance. It will give us additional income.)
Fulgar said their rice stall, provided free of charge by the Sta. Maria local government unit (LGU), is located near the public market.
He vowed that their association would work hard to make their business successful.
Jenny Mapile, labor information officer-designate of DOLE-Region 1, explained that the "bigasan" project is part of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).
This program aims to provide additional income to qualified beneficiaries, particularly those earning close to the minimum wage.
Mapile said the project awarded P499,266 and P749,986 to the tricycle operators and drivers' associations in Sta. Maria and Asingan, respectively.
A total of 61 individuals from Sta. Maria and 42 from Asingan benefited from the program.
DOLE-Region 1 also awarded checks amounting to P11.3 million to the municipalities of Balungao and Tayug.
These funds will be used to purchase four-wheel-drive tractors, farming equipment and tools, and to establish additional "bigasan" projects.
Mapile said DOLE is committed to empowering communities and ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to improve the lives of disadvantaged workers in the region. (JCR/AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)
