More than 900 residents of Dagupan City, Pangasinan received Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) on 23 – 25 June 2021 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 (DSWD FO 1) in partnership with the City government.

DSWD FO 1 allocated PhP 6 million to the said recipients wherein 989 out of 1,019 have already received cash assistance while the remaining are for rescheduling due to the rise of water level in some island barangays such as Carael, Pugaro, and Salapingao.

Each recipient received cash ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP7,500, as capital depending on their selected micro-enterprises identified during the final assessment and validation conducted by the agency.

Celestina Cayabyab, a 67-year-old bangus and dried fish vendor, said that the local declarations of community quarantine and lockdown in the city gravely affected their family’s livelihood.

“Talagang tumigil itong kabuhayan namin dahil sa mga sunud-sunod na lockdown. Sa konting puhunang ito, makababangon na ulit kami (Our livelihood stopped because of the succeeding lockdowns. From this seed capital, we will be able to rise again),” said Cayabyab.

Mayor Brian Lim reminded the LAG recipients to properly utilize the cash assistance given to uplift the lives of their families this time of health crisis. He also reiterated the strict compliance on the submission of receipts as part of the DSWD FO 1 and the city government’s LAG monitoring.

Minimum health protocols were strictly observed during the distribution. (by: Radz Bismonte, Social Marketing Officer, Sustainable Livelihood Program)