Posted on by Jaymante Pearl Apilado

The Sustainable Livelihood Program also known as SLP, started as Self – Employment Assistance – Kaunlaran (SEA-K) Program designed as an investment in building social capital at the community level to increase the access of marginalized households to financial services. Now, SLP continues to be a capacity-building program for the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged households and communities seeking to improve their socio-economic status through livelihood. The program also extends its service to teach and empower the established livelihood by bolstering partnerships with different programs and services in the Department to open windows for a stable market for SLP Participants to sustain their respective enterprises.

In this partnership, the identified SLP Associations undergo training or orientation on Negotiated Procurement Community Participation with the DSWD FO 1’s Procurement Section. The procurement process in a Government setting is being discussed and SLPAs were assisted in registering their enterprise in PhilGEPS and filing procurement documents.

Aringay Veggies Consumer Cooperative delivering eggs produce to RRCY.

In 2023, the Dagupan SLP Consumers Cooperative was engaged as a supplier for the Haven for Women and the Aringay Veggies Agricultural Cooperative for Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) early this year. This was made possible through the internal convergence between SLP, Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP), and Residential Care Facilities (RCFs).

Meanwhile, the delivery of goods to Child Development Centers (CDCs) has taken place through partnership with the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP). Six (6) SLPAs in Ilocos Norte delivered agricultural products to 205 CDCs benefiting 4,696 children beneficiaries with more than 3.8 million Approved Budget Contract. In addition, 3 SLPAs in the province of Pangasinan also participated in the 12th Cycle Implementation of SFP for 500 CDCs with 18,855 children beneficiaries.

Bigasan sa Caoayan Consumers Cooperative delivers agricultural products in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.

This year, Bigasan sa Caoayan Consumers Cooperative engaged in the partnership bringing commodities to 350 CDC children in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur amounting to more than PhP100,000 budget allocation. “Malaking bagay ang mga ginagawang hakbang ng SLP para sa aming mga benepisyaryo, bukod sa makakatulong kami sa mga kabataan ay natutulungan rin kami nito upang kumita ng mas malaki na maaari naming magamit sa pagpapanatili at pagpapalago na aming mga negosyo. Maraming maraming salamat DSWD Field Office 1 at sa mga programa nitong natutulungan para iangat ang aming kabuhayan (These kind of initiatives of SLP are of great help to us beneficiaries. Apart from being able to help the children with their nutrition it also helps us earn more which we can use in sustaining and flourishing our business. Thank you DSWD Field Office 1 and its programs who converge to help us uplift our livelihood),” said Maridol Atienza,Treasurer of Bigasan sa Caoayan Consumers Cooperative.

The SLP continues to enhance its mechanisms to intensify partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and innovate capacity-building activities to create opportunities for the SLP Participants to expand their enterprises. (by John Chris B. Zureta, Project Development Officer II / Social Marketing Officer – Sustainable Livelihood Program)