ALABEL, Sarangani -- Fifty-six individuals, mostly former rebels and parents of child laborers, in Alabel town, Sarangani are given opportunity to gain livelihood with nearly P1 million worth of aid from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
DOLE XII Regional Director Raymundo Agravante led the awarding of DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) "kabuhayan" formation assistance to residents of Datal Anggas on July 8.
The DOLE Kabuhayan formation support includes project undertakings on carpentry, painting services, vulcanizing, tailoring, and vegetable gardening.
"Aming pinaaabot kasama ng mahal na Secretary Silvestre "Bebot" Bello III ang tulong at mga proyektong may layuning magbigay ng oportunidad na kumita at nang makatulong na maitaguyod ang inyong pamilya at maging matagumpay sa pagbalik sa ating lipunan sa pamamagitan ng gamit pang negosyo na bigay ng DOLE at ng ating lokal na pamahalaan," Director Agravante said.
(We, along with our beloved Secretary Silvestre "Bebot" Bello III, bring you these aids and projects that aim to provide you with opportunity to earn, help you support your families, and for you to succeed as you return to the society through these livelihood from DOLE and your local government unit.)
Recipients of the kabuhayan formation assistance are former rebels and parents whose children had to work to help their families earn a living.
"Isang malaking pasasalamat sa DOLE at lokal na pamahalaan ng Alabel sa patuloy na pag-alalay sa pagkamit ng panibagong simula at magandang buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng proyektong pangkabuhayan na di natin natamasa noong tayo'y namumundok pa," said Rufinio Diamante, one of the beneficiaries.
(A big thanks to DOLE and the local government of Alabel for the sustained assistance for us to achieve a new beginning and a better life through these livelihood projects which we had not experienced when we were still in the mountains.)
Meanwhile, Alabel Mayor Vic Paul Salarda praised Director Agravante and DOLE for reaching out to the vulnerable sectors, even in hardest-to-reach communities, such as Datal Anggas.
Datal Anggas is one of target barangays of the Support to Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Also present during the release were DOLE-Sarangani Field Office OIC Domingo Baron, SLEO Maria Ligaya Balongo, LGU-Alabel Sangguniang Bayan members, Datal Anggas Barangay Captain Roldan Salimama, and troops of 73rd Infantry Batallion, Philippine Army, and Alabel PNP.
The grant of assistance to qualified beneficiaries is a product of joint inter-agency collaboration of member-agencies of RTF-ELCAC. (MLBalongo/CDGamboa-DOLE XII/DED-PIA XII)
