Over 1,000 beneficiaries finish livelihood trainings

CEBU, Philippines - A 37-year-old mother of four was among the more than 1,000 indigents and 4Ps beneficiaries who graduated yesterday from the skills training program offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Lurezel Rallos, resident of Mandaue City, grabbed the opportunity to train as lady guard under the DSWD-7 program to augment the needs of her family. She said her husband is a project-based worker and trisikad driver where they relied much of their daily subsistence.

Although they get financial assistance from the government under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) but the amount is not enough for their needs especially that two of her children are already in high school while the two others are also in the elementary.

Rallos said she never dreamed of becoming a security guard but she needs to help her husband, so when DSWD offered the training programs for the indigents and 4Ps beneficiaries she wasted no time and enrolled in the program.

Yesterday, Rallos was among the 1,297 marginalized individuals who completed the trainings. She received her certificate of training as lady guard during the commencement exercises held at the IEC Pavilion.

Rizalina Patindol, regional program coordinator of DSWD-7's Sustainable Livelihood Program, said that each participant was allotted P20,000 to cover for the training fee, food, transportation, lodging, and uniform.

Each of the graduate was also given P5,000 for their pre-employment needs like the processing of requirements.

Patindol said the beneficiaries were selected based on their needs and interests. Aside from the training on security services, DSWD-7 also offered automotive servicing, beauty care, pharmacy services, housekeeping services, contact centers services, among others.

Patindol said they have partnered with training agencies to facilitate the immediate employment of the graduates. All graduates will be monitored by the DSWD-7 until they are able to get a job.

DSWD-7 director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said her office has targeted 24,000 individuals to avail of the training programs this year.

"So we are very confident that we will end the year attaining more than the target with over 30,000 beneficiaries," she said.  (FREEMAN)