DOLE Region 7 Provides Livelihood Assistance To 600 Earthquake Victims

The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office No. 7 (DOLE 7) has released Php600, 000 in livelihood assistance to 600 women association members in La Libertad, Negros Oriental in December during the DOLE’s 82nd Foundation Anniversary celebration.

DOLE-Negros Oriental Field Office (NOFO) Head Marites G. Mercado said this yesterday in a report to DOLE-7 OIC Regional Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga who said the beneficiaries come from the 12 barangays of La Libertad namely: Mapalasan; Biga-a; Pisong; Martilo; Bagtic; Pacuan; Guihob; Maragondong; Cantupa; Pangca; Cangabo; and Aya. “These barangays were hardest hit by the 6.7 magnitude earthquake on 6 February 2012, which devastated properties and farms, and claimed dozens of lives in Bohol and Cebu,” said Sarcauga.

The Bigaa Women’s Association and the Mapalasan Women’s Association each received Php300,000 in livelihood assistance that will benefit 600 members.

“The amount will be used to finance the beneficiaries’ goat raising and dispersal project,” said Sarcauga, who explained that the amount is under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

The project was conceived to help the earthquake victims start anew, augment their income and help them become self-sufficient, said Mapalasan Women’s Association President Felicenery Uy.

It is expected, she added, to benefit women association members who are also identified by the local government unit (LGU) of La Libertad as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4 Ps) recipients.

“Human sa linog naglisod mi ug bangon kay gihurot man sa maong katalagman ang among mga hayupan. Hilabihan nga kasakit ang among nasinati kay nakita namu kung gi-unsa pag lubong ni-ini ang among mga hayupan,” said Uy.

She added that with the DOLE’s livelihood assistance, they will stand again, put all their efforts together and do their best to nurture what is given to them.

The livelihood grant will help the beneficiaries procure 600 “does” (female goats) locally acquired at Php1, 000.00 each for distribution to the first 600 batch of recipients.

“Domestic goats normally have a gestation period of 150 days or five months, giving birth to multiple kids under normal circumstances. The subsequent pool of dispersal receivers will get a chance to own one and the cycle goes on,” explained Mercado, adding that a beneficiary can only acquire full ownership of the domestic animal after giving back to the associations’ one female goat.

To help promote the project’s sustainability and broaden the beneficiaries’ sense of ownership and accountability, the DOLE-NOFO provided them with timely project orientation.

“Ang DOLE nanghinaot nga kining atong mga benepisaryo mulambo pinaagi sa ilang kaakohan sa matag usa. Ang kalamboan dili makab-ot kung ang mga miembro mag hinakog. Kami sa DOLE dako ang pasalamat ug kalipay nga maka-abag sa mga taga La Libertad sa ilang pagbangon human sa linog nga ni-igu nila,” she added.(PNA) FPV/PR/PJN