P5.8-M assistance augments coop members’ livelihood

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-6 through its Antique Field Office recently released P5.84 million for various livelihood projects of San Jose Multi-Purpose Cooperative members in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique.

“DOLE, with this financial assistance, has provided opportunities to help the coop members improve their living condition,” DOLE-6 Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao said.

After receiving 10 sacks of rice and a weighing scale, Adea Hiponia, one of the 188 project beneficiaries, expressed her determination to improve her livelihood,

“I and my family are thankful for this project. I will try to make this rice retailing project grow. This will help the studies of my children because my husband is jobless,” Hiponia said.

The 49-year-old Hiponia is one of the 57 who will venture in rice retailing project.

Ticao emphasized that the livelihood assistance targets the marginalized sector of the community.

“We are extending our services to beneficiaries such as farmers, seasonal laborers, tricycle drivers, women, livestock raisers, PWDs, senior citizens, self-employed and ambulant vendors.”

Thank you DOLE for the rice retailing project. May you continue helping uplift the livelihood of poor families like us,” said Felicidad Caburnay, a senior citizen, whose income from her sari-sari store is not enough to sustain the needs of her family and for the medication of an ailing husband.

For Leo Batocael, the rice retailing project he availed from DOLE will provide additional income to support his family especially his parents.

The livelihood assistance also funded the bonsai propagation and selling project, carinderia and refreshment, food vending, hand embroidery, frozen foods retailing, hog fattening, bread and pastries making, cattle fattening, shoe and bag repair, sewing and tailoring, meat vending, softdrinks retailing and other income-generating projects.

Rodelyn Vera Cruz-Berto, general manager of San Jose Multi-Purpose Cooperative, thanked DOLE for the financial assistance that paved the way for the formation and enhancement of various income-generating projects of the identified beneficiaries particularly in this time of pandemic.