DOLE 6 releases livelihood aid to Sagay 9 victims’ kin

The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 6, through its Negros Occidental Field Office, released its counterpart for the livelihood assistance to the families of the nine sugarcane farm workers who were killed at Hda. Nene in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City last October 20, 2018.

The aid totaled P137,400 worth of raw materials and goods.

The Sari-Sari Store, Swine Fattening and Dried Fish Vending Project, was the type of assistance proposed by the victims’ immediate beneficiaries themselves as sources of continuous financial support to and income generation for them.

The dried fish vending project, which was received by Celia Laurencio last March 4, 2020, amounting to P20,000, included 20 kilos of dried danguit and 15 kilos of dried tabagak, including 500 pieces of A1-sized plastic bags for the packaging of the said dried goods.

The Sari-Sari Store project amounting to P80,000 worth of items such as bar and powdered soaps, canned sardines, packed noodles, instant coffee and chocolate mixed drinks in sachets, shampoo, and biscuits, was received by Sandradee Ogahayon, Emelda Bantigue and Marjorie Mendoza last March 10, 2020.

On the same day, Primo Dumaguit, Rosevilla Baron and Bienvenido Villegas Sr. received 6 piglets (2 heads each beneficiary), together with 6 sacks of starter, grower and finisher feeds (2 sacks per type of feeds), 2 sachets in 10 grams each of dewormer, and 2 bottles in 120 milligrams each of vitamins, all amounting to P37,400.

“Dako gid ini nga bulig sa amon, ilabi na gid sa mga kinahanglanon sang amon mga kabataan sa ila pag-iskwela (This is a great help for us especially to the needs of our children when they go to school),” Sandradee Ogahayon said.

Nelsa Geruldo, representative of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Sagay City, said that, the said livelihood assistance will be a definite means to alleviate the beneficiaries’ meager living condition.

“They only rely on their income as sugarcane farm workers and losing a family member who used to augment their everyday income is a misfortune. Through this livelihood assistance, they will definitely have some sort of relief,” said Geruldo.

Mary Agnes N. Capigon, head of the DOLE Negros Occidental Field Office, was equally thankful since the beneficiaries have been emotionally despaired due to the tragic demise of their family members.

“This is also a way of giving them comfort after what they have gone through. The Department is hopeful that they could sustain the livelihood project given to them, and would even be better if they could turn them into micro-small enterprises in the future”, said Capigon.

The beneficiaries were wives, children and siblings of the seven members of the National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW) who were killed last October 20, 2018 in Brgy. Bulanon, Sagay City, along with 2 other children.