Posted on by Jaymante Pearl Apilado

The DSWD Field Office 1 – Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Balungao, Pangasinan and other National Government Agencies officially launched the Gatasang Kalabaw Kontra Kagutuman at Kahirapan (GK3K) Project in Balungao Pangasinan.

Twelve SLP Associations consisting of 300 Members received more than 8 Million worth of project due to the joint efforts of the partners. 

Ceremonial Awarding of Seed Capital Fund to the representative of the SLP Assiociations

Ang DSWD bilang isa sa mga pangunahing ahensya ng gobyerno na tumutulong na matugunan ang kahirapan at kagutuman sa ating bansa ay patuloy na nagpapatupad ng mga programang tulad nito upang maiangat ang pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan (The DSWD, as one of the lead government agencies that help address poverty and hunger in our country, continues to implement programs like this to improve the well being of our citizens),” said USEC Monina Josefina H. Romualdez, DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Group in her message.

The Undersecretary also expressed her gratitude to the Local Government of Balungao, Pangasinan under the leadership of Mayor Maria Theresa R. Peralta for providing PhP4 Million worth of essential materials, 10 hectares of land area for the establishment of the carabao housing,forage area, and vegetable production site for the program participants.

 

Among the interventions that other partners have provided are the kits from the Department of Trade and Industry, capacity-building interventions from other GK3K partners, and provision of additional carabaos and artificial insemination from the Philippine Carabao Center – Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University.

Precila Canoberal, one of the beneficiaries, is hopeful that each of the members will succeed in this venture. Ang mga tulong at mga Ahensiyang tumulong sa amin ay magsisilbing motibasyon namin upang pagbutihin ang kabuhayang ito. Maraming salamat sa walang sawang suporta sa amin. (The assistance and the Agencies who assisted us will serve as our motivation to improve our livelihood. Thank you very much for your tireless support to us),” Precila’s message to the SLP and its partners.

Moreover, SLP National Director Miramel G. Laxa led the symbolic toasting of milk which symbolizes fostering connection and bond, emphasizing the shared vision of SLP and its partners of a country free from hunger and poverty.

The GK3K is a Program Convergence Budgeting (PCB) – Zero Hunger project initiated by the DSWD-SLP in collaboration with other National Government Agencies, and the Local Government Unit of Balungao and is the biggest implemented project in the region because of the collaborative efforts of the partners (by John Chris B. Zureta, Project Development Officer II / Social Marketing Officer – Sustainable Livelihood Program)