DOLE 5, AKO Bicol to give P.5M livelihood grant for indigents in Sorsogon town

By Marlon A. Loterte

LEGAZPI CITY, August 13 (PIA) -- Some 60 indigents in Pilar, Sorsogon will benefit from a P500,000-livelihood grant from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Ako Bicol Party List .

DOLE 5 regional director Nathaniel V. Lacambra said benefiaries are composed of 32 food processors or vendors, 22 fishermen, two bakers, two dressmakers, a carpenter and a masseur.

Each beneficiary, Lacambra said, will receive free raw materials, hand tools and equipment worth P6,999.025 plus a half-day simple business management training which will be facilitated by DOLE 5.

Further, AKO Bicol Party list will give an initial P1,000 cash to each beneficiary to be used as start-up capital.

“We want indigents from far-flung areas to benefit from the government's livelihood programs to help reduce poverty in these areas," added Lacambra.

Lacambra, along with AKO Bicol Representatives Christopher Co, Alfredo Garbin and Rodel Batocabe, will led the said turn-over ceremony today in said town .

“The grant is actually more than half a million pesos. The DOLE-5 alone will shell out P419,941.50 for the tools and equipment. Wala pa diyan yung ilalabas ng AKO Bicol na dagdag capital,” Lacambra explained.

The P.5 million livelihood grant is part of DOLE 5 DK-SK (starter kit) program or popularly known here in the region as “Trabaho Sa Bag”. (MAL-PIA5/Albay)