DSWD-7 Holds Graduation for Livelihood Beneficiaries

Close to 1,300 individuals who have availed of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) Field Office VII Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) Employment Facilitation (EF) will gather on December 7, 2016 at the IEC Pavilion for their commencement exercises.

About 1,297 beneficiaries from the different parts of Central Visayas are expected to join the said activity dubbed as the biggest graduation of SLP this year with the theme Changing and Empowering the Vulnerable Individuals Toward a Better Future.

SLP engages in resource-based and market-driven community micro-enterprises, or explore employment opportunities. It facilitates assistance to beneficiaries by organizing them into groups and provides aid in planning and monitoring their livelihood projects to ensure that they are self-sustaining.

For employment facilitation, SLP partners with the public and private sectors as service providers and subject-matter experts on financial literacy, resource mapping, market scanning, and technical and vocational skills training, financial literacy and credit assistance, and employment opportunities among others.

Among the courses offered by SLP through EF include Housekeeping Services NC II, Pharma Services NC II, Hilot (Wellness Massage) NC II, Contact Center Services NC II, Security Services NC I, Food & Beverage Services NC II, Automotive Servicing NC II, Refrigeration & Airconditioning Services NC II and Beauty Care NC II.

“With the help of our partner service providers, we are staging this year’s biggest SLP graduation to recognize our beneficiaries who have done their part in the hope of having a better life,” said Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, DSWD-7 Regional Director.

This year’s partners include Cebu Technological Sciences-Cebu, Rose Institute of Cosmetology and Pharmacy, Call Center Academy, Center for Healthcare Professionals Cebu, Inc., Café-Gonzales Security Training Academy Inc., Centurion Security Training Institute Inc., Lancer Security Training Center for Guards Inc., and E&J Security Training Institute Inc.

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 Regional Director Exequiel Sarcauga will serve as the Keynote Speaker while Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III will also deliver an inspirational message during the graduation.

After the commencement exercises in the morning, job matching and employment facilitation will be done in the afternoon.

SLP has already served more than 17,000 individuals and has disbursed some Php 54.6 million as of November this year.

The program facilitated various livelihood activities such as hog raising, water refilling stations, organic lechon vending, poultry, handicrafts, bag and slipper production among other micro-economics development scheme.