In line with the Provincial Government of Bohol’s (PGBh) undertakings to ease the impact of the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic and to strengthen Bohol’s Poverty Alleviation Program, Vice Governor Rene Lopez Relampagos led the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Tuesday, September 14,2021, in approving a resolution that granted authority to Gov. Arthur Yap to work in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in implementing the Kabuhayan Program in the province.
The approval of the authority came after the DOLE approved the project proposal of the PGBh to provide associations and individuals with additional assistance to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability of their various undertakings.
The approval of the said project proposal by DOLE requires the PGBh to execute a memorandum of agreement (MOA).
According to the report of the Committee on Social Services headed by Board Member Lucille Lagunay, 5 associations that are registered with DOLE have been identified as grantees of the program.
These associations specialize in oyster and mushroom production, turmeric production, egg production, and peanut butter processing and marketing.
Moreover, 47 rebel returnees in the province have also been identified as grantees of the program with 8 former rebels in the First District, 19 rebel returnees in the Second District, and 20 former insurgents in the Third District.
The projects identified for funding are welding services, cookery, vulcanizing and welding shop, bread and pastry, dressmaking, carpentry, tailoring, and farm equipment.
Furthermore, under the proposed MOA, the DOLE shall provide the fund assistance for the working capital to the PGBh of the approved project amounting to P1,883,933, to be used exclusively for the implementation of the projects.
Accordingly, the funding assistance may be released in full or in tranches depending on the nature of the needs of the projects.
The DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) or Kabuhayan Program is a flagship program of the Labor Department that provides grant assistance for capacity-building on livelihood and entrepreneurial ventures for vulnerable and marginalized workers.
Its program components are the Kabuhayan Formation which provides beneficiaries with startup capital to venture into individual livelihood or collective enterprise undertakings; the Kabuhayan Enhancement which provides existing livelihood undertakings with additional working capital to enable them to grow into a more viable and sustainable business; and Kabuhayan Restoration which provides working capital for the re-establishment of lost or damaged livelihoods due to occurrence of natural disasters/calamities.
