MALAYBALAY CITY (PIA)--As part of its year-round turnover of livelihood grants to marginalized and disadvantaged informal workers in the province, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10, through Provincial Director Raul Valmores of Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (BukPFO), recently turned over livelihood assistance—with Abag Kalambuan Inc. (AKI) as the Accredited Co-Partner (ACP)—to Sinanglanan Parents and Persons with Disability Association (SiPaPDA).

The SiPaPDA, which consists of 21 parents and persons with disabilities (PWDs), chose Agrivet and Farm Supply as their livelihood project in the amount of P250,000 from the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

Valmores said that through the DILP, the Department took various endeavors to help integrate marginalized and disadvantaged informal workers, including PWDs, into the mainstream and enable them to participate in its social and economic development. 

Valmores also acknowledged Malaybalay local government and its Public Employment Service Office (PESO) for their continued support as DOLE's program partner.

Malaybalay City Mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran urged the recipients to use the grants wisely. He assured them that the city government stands ready to help those in need.

In the meantime, AKI Chairperson Bienvenido Narciso Jr. has expressed his confidence in the beneficiaries' ability to meet their daily needs with the livelihood grant. He underscored the importance of maximizing it to create a positive ripple effect, benefiting not only themselves but also enabling them to extend help to others in need.

Virgilio Arenido, SiPaPDA president, is grateful for the opportunity to change their lives. He said the association could now meet the daily needs of their families while also creating employment opportunities in their community.

"We are thankful to DOLE for giving us, the PWDs, a chance in life. We thank the government for this tailored project for marginalized groups. Indeed, the government sees us and has not forgotten us," Arenido said.

Prior to the turnover, the group attended skill-building sessions such as financial literacy and basic entrepreneurship. The DOLE designed the training to provide SiPaPDA with the knowledge and skills needed to manage livelihood endeavors.

The DOLE Livelihood Development Specialists will continue to monitor the associations and their livelihood activities after the turnover. This step makes sure that technical support is guiding the association.

The DOLE has always been a staunch advocate for promoting the rights of people with disabilities, protecting their rights, and promoting the economic empowerment of people with disabilities.

DILP, or the Kabuhayan Program of DOLE, is a flagship program of the agency that aims to help marginalized groups such as self-employed workers who are unable to earn sufficient income, unpaid family workers, low-waged and seasonal workers, workers displaced or to be displaced, marginalized and landless farmers, marginalized fisherfolk, women and youth, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, indigenous peoples, victims of armed conflicts, rebel returnees, and parents of child laborers. (DOLE-10 Buk PFO/PIA-10/Bukidnon)