DOLE aid boosts Guimaras fishing livelihoods

The island barangay of Guiwanon in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, is rich in fishing and agricultural resources, but many residents have lacked the equipment needed to turn those resources into stable and sustainable income.

To help address that gap, the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 6, through its Guimaras Field Office, released PHP 2,996,250 in livelihood assistance on March 6, 2026, following a request from the local government unit of Barangay Guiwanon.

The assistance will support 60 fisherfolk and small-scale farmers through motor engines, fishing gear and accessories, and hog-raising projects intended to expand income sources, strengthen household economic security, and support the local fishing industry.

Local officials said during the ceremonial turnover that access to proper equipment and resources would help beneficiaries improve productivity and expand their livelihood activities.

The assistance was released under DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood Program, or Kabuhayan Program, which helps vulnerable workers start, expand or restore livelihood projects and includes support meant to improve long-term income security.

Regional Director Sixto T. Rodriguez Jr. also turned the ceremony into a service caravan that brought government services closer to marginalized sectors, particularly in social protection and skills development.

“The livelihood assistance should be coupled with giving the opportunity to access different government programs for skills development and social protection,” said RD Rodriguez referring to the partner agencies present during the ceremony.

The Social Security System introduced the AlkanSSSya Program, which encourages regular contributions among informal-sector workers, while PhilHealth highlighted its YAKAP, or Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, which guides members on health coverage and benefits.

TESDA also presented available community-based skills training programs aimed at helping poor and marginalized groups build competencies for employment or additional livelihood opportunities.

DOLE said the project is meant to combine livelihood support with skills development and social protection so beneficiaries can build more secure and sustainable futures in the countryside.

For families in Barangay Guiwanon, the assistance represents more than material support, as it offers a pathway toward stronger livelihoods and greater economic stability.