I. Program Overview

The Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) is a capability-building program for poor, vulnerable and marginalized households and communities to help improve their socio-economic conditions through accessing and acquiring necessary assets to engage in and maintain thriving livelihoods.

II. Projects/Services/Activities/Modalities

The Sustainable Livelihood Program shall facilitate interventions through two tracks:

Microenterprise Development (MD) is a Track of the SLP which focusses on the establishment of micro-enterprise through provision of a one-time financial capital, enhancement of skills, and building/re-building and developing physical and natural assets, to wit:

ModalityDescriptionCost Parameter
Seed Capital Fund (SCF)A start-up Capital used to purchase small tools, raw materials, and common service facilities such as machinery, equipment, and plant needed in starting or expanding a micro-enterprise. The SCF is only provided once per program participant.Maximum of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (PhP15,000.00) per program participant
Skills Training FundA grant that used for the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed in the management of the microenterprise to be managed by the SLPA or its membersMaximum of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (PhP15,000.00) per program participant
Cash for Building Livelihood Assets (CBLA) FundsAn allowance or stipend provided to program participants who have rendered work for labor-intensive projects to build, re-build, and/or protect natural and physical assets necessary for more profitable, self-sustaining and resilient micro-enterprises.One hundred percent of the present standard minimum wage set by the Department of Labor and Employment applicable on the region at the time of application, for a maximum of eleven days, inclusive of the ½ day pre-CBLA orientation and ½ day post-CBLA activities.

Employment Facilitation is a Track of the SLP that provides one-time assistance through the provision of EAF and STF to qualified member/s of eligible households who preferred employment.

ModalityDescriptionCost Parameter
Employment Assistance FundA grant provided to the program participant that will support a guaranteed employment such as: 1) processing of employment documentary requirements; 2) payment of medical exams; 3) purchase of basic employment tools and materials; 4) transportation allowance, meal allowance, and board and lodging until the first 15 days of employmentMaximum of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP5,000.00) per program participant
Skills Training FundA grant ot be used for th acquisition of technical and vocational knowledge and skills delivered in the form of orientations and lectures, demonstrations, and other similar skills acquisition methodologies for the participants. The grant covers the following components: a0 technical-vocational skills training fee; b) meal, lodging, and transporation allowance; c) training supplies and materials; and d) program participants’ assessment fee.Maximum of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (PhP15,000.00) per program participant

SLP Stages of Implementation

The Implementing Project Development Officer (IPDO) conduct the first four stages of implementation as stated below. The IPDO shall transition the fifth stage to the MPDO who shall monitor the program participants until the end of one year and three quarters incubation period.

  1. Pre-implementation Stage
    This stage is composed of the targeting and selection process of project areas and program participants of SLP, as well as identification of institutional market sources and opportunities.
  2. Social Preparation Stage
    This stage follows a participatory process to empower and develop co-ownership among SLP participants. It is composed of Sustainable Livelihood Analysis, Basic Livelihood Training, and SLPA formation.
  3. Resource Mobilization Stage
    This stage is composed of planning and preparatory activities for setting up or rehabilitating the micro-enterprises of program participants. These activities involve utilizing existing or acquired livelihood assets, and obtaining additional resource support from external stakeholders.
  4. Project Implementation Stage
    Project Implementation cover at least the first three months of micro-enterprise operations. SLPA members must have been actively involved in the operations of their micro-enterprises and in the management of their association.
  5. Mainstreaming Stage
    This stage focuses on ensuring that the SLPAs are continuously capacitated to sustain their SLPA operations and employment, after the provision of SLP modalities. This shall be done through continuous capability building, quarterly monitoring, and assessments within a two-year incubation period.

III. Target Beneficiaries

Upholding the value of inclusivity, the Program is open to poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and/or disadvantaged households, building upon their strengths and understanding how they can use these to achieve positive livelihood outcomes. Furthermore, it operates in all regions and provinces, treating all municipalities, cities, and barangays as potential areas to implement its various interventions.

IV. Eligibility Requirements

Each household can enroll aa maximum of two (2) members pursuing two (2) different tracks – (i) Microenterprise Development (MD) through resource-based and market-driven sustainable micro-enterprises and (ii) Employment Facilitation (EF) through technical and vocational skills training; job network services, which links the program paarticipants to locally available jobs that are appropriate to their skills and competencies and submission of employment requirements.

A participant of the MD Track must be at least sixteen (16) years old to participate, with a written legal consent from the parents or legal guardians, and must be a member of a Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA).

A participant of the EF Track must be at least eighteen (18) years old upon employment, following legal employment standards.

V. Documentary Requirements

All SLPAs and EF Track participants must be granted with Certificate of Eligibility signed by the Regional Program Coordinator of the SLP-Regional Program Management Office certifying compliance to SLP’s selection process as follows:

MD trackEF Track
Attendance to SLP OrientationAttendance to SLP Orientation
Attendance to all SLPA members to Micro-enterprise Development TrainingAttendance to Basic Employment Skills Training or presentation of other valid documents
Ratified SLPA Constitution and By-lawsSigned Employment Assistance Fund/Skills Training Fund Needs Assessment, Modality Application Form with complete attachments, if applicable, and EAF fund Utilization Commitment
Signed Modality Application Form with complete attachments, if applicableMungkahing Proyekto that has been signed by the Regional Director
Mungkahing Proyekto that has been signed by the Regional DirectorMungkahing Proyekto that has been signed by the Regional Director

VI. Contact Person/s

VIRGINIA P. SESAY
Social Welfare Officer IV, OIC-Chief, Specialized Programs Division
687-8000 loc 229
slp.fo1@dswd.gov.ph

CHAD EVERRETT Q. LLANES
Project Development Officer II / Regional Program Coordinator, Sustainable Livelihood Program-Regional Program Management Office
687-8000 loc 229
slp.fo1@dswd.gov.ph

VII. Links

The 1987 Constitution – Article XII Section 1 states that “the goal of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and, an expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the under privileged”.

Republic Act 5416 or the Social Welfare Act of1968 – created the Department of Social Welfare and Development to develop and implement a comprehensive social welfare program:

Sec. 1 Mandate. Consistent with the provisions of the Administrative Code of 1987 and Republic Act 7160 (Local Government Code), the DSWD is hereby mandated to provide assistance lo local government units (LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs), other national government agencies (NGAs), people’s organizations (POs) and members of civil society in effectively implementing programs, projects, and services that will alleviate poverty and empower disadvantaged individuals, families and communities for an improved quality of life as well as implement statutory and specialized programs which are directly lodged with the Department  and/or not yet devolved to the LGUs.

Republic Act 11291 or the Act providing Magna carta of the Poor mandates that the State shall promote livelihood among the poor by providing them technical and administrative support to establish their livelihood enterprises. The DSWD-SLP is one of the identified programs that will deliver the necessary intervention/s to uplift the standard of living and quality of life of the poor.

Republic Act 11310 or the Act Institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Section 13 mandates that “qualified household-beneficiaries shall be given priority in the availmentof the modalities and interventions under DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program or other appropriate or similar program offered by other government agencies or accredited private institutions”.