OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, February 02, 2021 – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program livelihood associations foster partnerships with other welfare and development agencies as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Kabuhayan Program accepts SAAD beneficiaries for supplementary grants after qualifying as existing organized groups for livelihood and development.
The Blessed Corean Swine Raiser Association in Sitio Core, Brgy. Balao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro – a SAAD-initiated farmers’ association, received Php 300,000 worth of feeds, vitamins, and dewormers from the DOLE under its Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or KABUHAYAN Program.
The DILP is a flagship program of DOLE that provides grant assistance for marginalized livelihood organizations.
The Blessed Corean Swine Raiser Association submitted an application for the grant and became one of the 29 different livelihood groups in Abra de Ilog to receive the subsidy from DILP. The grant was given through the assistance of the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Abra de Ilog. The said association falls under the Kabuhayan Enhancement component, as it is a pre-existing livelihood association that needs assistance for sustainability and enterprise viability.
The DILP or Kabuhayan Program, with its objective to contribute to the agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and poverty reduction offers three components, namely; Kabuhayan Formation, which aims to enable eligible beneficiaries to start individual or group enterprise; Kabuhayan Enhancement, to assist existing livelihood projects for sustainability and enterprise viability; and the Kabuhayan Restoration, for the re-establishment of lost or damaged livelihoods due to natural calamities.
“Ang aming samahan ay nagpapasalamat sa mga biyaya na aming natanggap mula sa SAAD, na ngayon po ay patuloy naming pinagyayaman. Nagpapasalamat rin po ako sa DOLE sa napakalaking tulong na kanilang naibigay. Malaki po ang maitutulong nito para sa aming mga baboy,” Ms. Lilybeth Prudente, Chairman of Blessed Coreans Swine Raiser Association shared.
The association is one of the five associations established by the SAAD Program in Abra de Ilog who received 10 sows and one boar on September 10, 2019, which are now in its 3rd and 4th cycle of pregnancy.
SAAD continuously coordinates with the LGUs in Occidental Mindoro to provide assistance and sustainability efforts to the farmers and animal raisers. The program prioritizes value-adding projects and facilitates supply and enterprise activities within the locality hoping to contribute to the development of access and food security in the province. ###
Writer: Dianne Francis A. Sy, SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer
Reference: Wily Adrian E. Vergara
Photos: DA-SAAD MIMAROPA
