DSWD, DOLE release cash aids to beneficiaries

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development has distributed P40.6 million to 2,708 beneficiaries in Cebu under its Sustainable Livelihood Program.

The three-day simultaneous payout covered the cities of Toledo, Naga and Carcar and the municipalities of Liloan, Minglanilla, San Fernando, Argao, Alegria, Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjug, Pinamungajan, Barili, and Sibonga.

The Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) is the program's response to those livelihoods affected by the Typhoon Odette that hit the region in December 2021.

“The typhoon devastated us, and my capital was used up for my family's daily needs; this P15,000 is a huge help for my family. I am thankful to DSWD for this grant because, with this, I will be able to open my small enterprise again," Rufino Ansit, a beneficiary from Toledo City, said in a dialect.

During the payout, DSWD-7 OIC-regional director Shalaine Marie Lucero reached out to the beneficiaries and challenged them to have the determination and discipline to run the business.

Lucero motivated them to start saving from their income and to involve the whole family in sustaining their enterprise.

Susan Sasan from Pinamungajan expressed that the words of Lucero has inspired her. "Tinuood gyud to mam, kinahanglan naa gyud tay savings, makatabang gyud kini panahon sa krisis (Yes, it is true, we should save, because it helps in times of crisis).”

According to DSWD-7, the beneficiaries will be monitored closely by the SLP monitoring officer after three months from receipt of grants.

Lucero hopes that the beneficiaries will value the help provided by the government to uplift their families’ lives and have a sustainable livelihood.

Meanwhile, a total of P2 million was awarded to 129 aggrieved workers through the Department of Labor and Employment’s Single Entry Approach (SEnA).

According to DOLE-7 OIC-regional director Lilia A. Estillore, the promising output of SEnA is only for the month of July 2022, wherein these workers filed for a request for assistance (RFA), and received what is due them during the conferences conducted.

Estillore said of the 146 RFAs disposed by the assigned Single Entry Approach Desk Officers (SEADOs) in the different field offices, about 101 were settled yielding a total of over P2 million was awarded to the workers.

According to DOLE-7, the positive result of the SEnA program for the month of July is an offshoot of the efforts exerted by the SEADOs from the different field offices that handled 163 RFAs, which mostly revolved around underpayment of wages; maternity claims; and non-payment of thirteenth month pay, holiday pay, night shift differential, service incentive leave, and overtime pay, among others.

To recall, DOLE-7 also awarded to workers over P24 million just for the first six months of the year benefiting 1,106 workers, whose requests for assistance were settled through SEnA. —GMR (FREEMAN)