Corella beneficiaries  of the Livelihood Assistance Grant program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) receive their financial assistance. The benefit assistance is facilitated by the Office of Cong. Edgar Chatto. Shown in the photo are from left program coordinator Kenny June Requeron, Corella municipal social worker Andrew Soliva, Corella Mayor Dee Tocmo, Board Member Aldner Damalerio and DSWD representative Jess Marjoe Joaquino. Contributed photo

Beneficiaries of the Livelihood Assistance Grant program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and facilitated by the Office of Cong. Edgar Chatto express gratitude for the support they received during another round of distributions that happened in some first district towns. The distribution of benefits took place on Friday, Apr. 9, 2021, according to information coming from the solon’s office.

Evangeline Namalata, a sari-sari store owner in Corella, town, could not hold back her tears as she shared how the community quarantine affected her livelihood.

Namalata is a widow who takes care of her blind mother and children, relying solely on the income from their sari-sari store as her family’s source of livelihood.

Moreover, a food vendor from Sikatuna town, Nina Amoy, also had to rely on meager earnings from her carenderia/sari-sari store to get by when her children were laid off from work due to the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic.

Amoy said that she was very happy to hear that she qualified to receive the assistance as it will ease some of her family’s burdens.

“Dako na gyud kaayo ni nga tabang sa among panginabuhian,” Lucia Bonsay, a Baclayon fish vendor said about the livelihood assistance.

Teams from Chatto’s office and the DSWD-Bohol led the simultaneous distributions in Baclayon, Corella, Sikatuna, Balilihan, Alburquerque, Catigbian, Dauis and Panglao.

Chatto had facilitated funds for the program intended to support low income families whose means of livelihood is affected due to the quarantine measures amid the Covid pandemic.

Under the program, the financial grant can be used by beneficiaries as seed capital to start-up anew or enhance their existing micro-enterprises or for job seeking activities.

Beneficiaries were identified by local government unit (LGU) led by the Local Chief Executives through their respective City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers and then indorsed to DSWD-Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Bohol for validation and verification.

Payouts were held for beneficiaries of the program in Loon, Antequera, Cortes, Calape, Maribojoc, Tubigon, and Tagbilaran City just before the Holy Week.

The first district solon is in constant coordination with national government agencies in the implementation of various programs such as the Livelihood Assistance Grant program of the DSWD especially in the continuing response to the pandemic.