DOLE livelihood aid reaches 74 beneficiaries in Estancia

ILOILO CITY — Seventy-four residents of Estancia, Iloilo, received PHP 1.48 million in livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to establish or strengthen small businesses in their communities.

The DOLE Iloilo Field Office extended the assistance on Sept. 8 in Barangay Poblacion Zone 1 through the project “Developing Livelihood for a Sustainable and Resilient Future” under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP).

Beneficiaries received support for livelihood activities suited to their skills and community needs, including sari-sari stores, rice retailing, baking, batchoy and barbecue selling, carinderia operations, dried fish and fruit vending, frozen food, kakanin and squid rings.

Other livelihood activities included street food vending and tailoring.

Of the 74 beneficiaries, 16 were covered by the livelihood formation component for new ventures, while 58 received livelihood enhancement assistance for existing sources of income.

DOLE provided PHP 1.48 million for project inputs, tools, equipment and other livelihood support.

The assistance is intended to help beneficiaries build more stable and resilient sources of income within their communities.

DOLE Iloilo Field Office head Dr. Arlyn E. Siaotong emphasized the importance of bringing government services directly to communities, particularly workers, vulnerable sectors and self-employed individuals who may benefit from livelihood assistance.

The initiative is being implemented under Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino, DOLE Region 6 Regional Director Sixto “Popoy” Rodriguez Jr. and the DOLE Iloilo Field Office.

Rodriguez has led DOLE Region 6 programs aimed at expanding livelihood and employment services across Western Visayas.

The project also underscores the role of local community partners in ensuring that livelihood interventions respond to the needs, skills and capacities of beneficiaries.

DILP, also known as the Kabuhayan program, is the livelihood component of DOLE’s Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program and is designed to support poor, vulnerable and marginalized workers through entrepreneurship and community enterprises.

DOLE updated its livelihood and emergency employment guidelines in 2026 to strengthen beneficiaries’ links to skills training, employment and more sustainable sources of income.

Through the Estancia project, DOLE Region 6 aims to bring livelihood assistance closer to communities outside major urban centers and expand opportunities for Ilonggos to develop productive and sustainable sources of income.