DOLE Western Visayas upgrades livelihood proposal skills

ILOILO CITY — The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VI conducted a three-day capacity development program to improve the preparation of sustainable and market-responsive livelihood proposals.

The “Boosting Capacity: Smart Livelihood Proposals” program was held from July 27 to 29, 2026, at J7 Hotel Iloilo in Iloilo City.

The activity brought together 30 personnel involved in implementing the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program, or DILEEP.

Participants represented the Office of the Regional Director, Technical Support and Services Division, Information Management Services Division, Child Labor Prevention and Elimination Program, and the program secretariat.

The group also included field office focal persons for the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program and livelihood development specialists.

The program aimed to strengthen participants’ ability to develop high-quality, market-responsive, and sustainable livelihood project proposals.

DOLE Regional Director Sixto “Popoy” Rodriguez Jr., officer-in-charge Assistant Regional Director Jerry Bearis, and Technical Support and Services Division officer-in-charge Jorge Ferraris II delivered welcome messages during the opening program.

Throughout the workshop, participants strengthened their proposal development skills by applying sound project-design principles and organizing relevant data.

They also prepared proposal outlines, refined project concepts, and improved documentation while ensuring that their outputs complied with DOLE policies and standards.

The activity supported the government’s broader push for innovation, good governance, and inclusive economic opportunities under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.

The program emphasized the need to design livelihood interventions that address the varied needs of vulnerable sectors.

These sectors include farmers, fisherfolk, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and parents of child laborers.

Participants developed feasible and economically sustainable project proposals that balanced social protection objectives with long-term community development goals.

Each group presented its output to demonstrate how participants applied the knowledge and skills gained during the three-day program.

Participants also worked to standardize proposal formats and establish quality benchmarks across DOLE Western Visayas field offices.

The initiative is expected to streamline proposal preparation, accelerate evaluation, and improve the implementation of livelihood programs throughout the region.

DILEEP covers DOLE’s livelihood and emergency employment initiatives, including the Kabuhayan Program and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

The Kabuhayan Program provides livelihood assistance to vulnerable workers, including self-employed and displaced workers, landless farmers, unpaid family workers, parents of child laborers, and low-wage seasonal workers.

The capacity development program reaffirmed DOLE Western Visayas’ commitment to strengthening the skills of its workforce.

By promoting digital transformation and innovative approaches to livelihood development, the department aims to deliver timely, responsive, and sustainable assistance to vulnerable workers and communities.

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino reaffirmed the department’s commitment to pursuing innovative approaches that strengthen employment generation and livelihood development for Filipino workers.

Tolentino was serving as labor secretary when the program was held in July 2026.

Rodriguez described the activity as another milestone in DOLE Regional Office VI’s continuing pursuit of organizational excellence and service innovation.

“I extend my appreciation to all the participants, facilitators, and organizers whose dedication contributed to the success of this initiative. Together, we continue to uphold DOLE’s commitment to providing decent work opportunities and sustainable livelihoods while embracing innovation in public service for the benefit of every Filipino worker,” Rodriguez said.

DOLE said it would continue developing innovative approaches to expand employment and livelihood opportunities for Filipino workers.