P5.49M livelihood aid for 233 Iloilo beneficiaries

By Mariela Angella Oladive

A total of 233 beneficiaries in Iloilo City will benefit from the P5.49 million livelihood assistance, called the Negosyo sa Kariton and Sari-sari Store Project, following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and the turnover of the check between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the City Government on July 22.

The livelihood project aims to enhance the micro-business sector in the city by distributing 133 uniform food carts and upgrading 100 sari-sari stores.

Present at the MOA signing were Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, DOLE VI Assistant Regional Director Melisa Navarra, DOLE-Iloilo Officer-in-Charge Amalia Judicpa, Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Office Department Head Velma Jane Lao, and Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Gabriel Felix Umadhay.

In an interview, Umadhay emphasized the city’s focus on food tourism, stating, “If we want to promote food tourism and stay true to the city’s gastronomy efforts, our workforce should be ready.”

He highlighted the city’s commitment to food tourism following its designation as a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City of Gastronomy.

The beneficiaries, all operating viable businesses, have undergone various phases of screening and training. Through the Uswag Negosyo Academy, they received education in financial literacy and business sustainability.

The Iloilo City Government also collaborated with the University of the Philippines to train food safety officers and beneficiaries on food safety standards.

“We cannot always rely on ‘DOLE-out.’ For sustainability, we need to empower them with the right technology and equipment to ensure that we make it better for everybody,” Umadhay added.

This assisted livelihood project was pioneered in 2023 with an initial 40 beneficiaries, focusing on frozen goods and rice retail businesses.

“We are very grateful because this is a collective effort. We cannot do anything without our partners in ensuring that we provide a scientific and logical approach to the problems we have here in Iloilo City. We celebrate our partnership through these programs. In the genuine desire to help others, we produce sustainable livelihoods for everybody,” Umadhay remarked.