Dione, along with DOLE Bataan Field Office head Leilani Reynoso, Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela Garcia, Mariveles Mayor Jesse Concepcion, Department of Social and Welfare Development (DWSD) Regional Director Adelina Apostol, and other local officials were in full force during the distribution of said livelihood assistance sourced from the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).
Of the total DILEEP assistance provided, P280,000 will be used to fund Negokart Projects to benefit 28 ambulant vendors, comprising 13 persons with disabilities (PWDs) and 15 DWSD – Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries from the Municipality of Dinalupihan. The Negokarts consist of roving cart businesses which include street-foods, halo-halo, kakanin, and banana cue, among others.
Meanwhile P200,000 will be used to fund DOLE Kabuhayan Starter KITS to benefit 40 PWDs from the Municipality of Mariveles. The start-up business kits include massage therapy, manicure and pedicure, and hair cutting.
The remaining P200,000 under the DOLE’s Worker’s Income Augmentation Program (WIN-AP) on the other hand, will be used to fund the Rice Trading Project to benefit 1,100 members of Mitsumi Philippines Workers Union-Association of Labor Union (ALU) – Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP).
Dione, in her keynote message, lauded the beneficiaries, especially the PWDs, on their resiliency and determination to strive in working hard to make both ends meet for their families.
“Kami po ay humahanga sa inyong katatagan sa mga hamon sa buhay sa kabila ng inyong kapansanan para lang makatulong sa inyong mga pamilya. Ang DOLE, sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga programang pangkabuhayan ay handing tumulong sa mga taong gusting tulungan ang kanilang mga sarili. Kami po ay umaasa na mapapalago po ninyo ang mga livelihood assistance na natanggap niyo ngayong araw na to,” Dione said.
On behalf of their fellow PWD beneficiaries, Wilson and Jonard Escosis, the orthopedic impaired father and son from Mariveles expressed their heartfelt thanks to the DOLE for the livelihood assistance they received.
“Sa dami po ng mga dumating na assistance dito sa Mariveles, ngayon lang po kami nakatanggap ng ganitong klaseng biyaya. Salamat po sa tiwala at asahan po ninyo na sa kabila ng aming kapansanan, ito po ay aming pagyayamanin,” said the elder Escosis.
