‘15 Kalinga vulnerable workers receive P595,551 livelihood assistance; DILP application subject to funds, qualifications’ - DOLE-Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Fifteen vulnerable workers in Kalinga received a total of P595,551 worth of livelihood tools and equipment from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), providing them with resources to start or sustain small income-generating activities.

Senior Labor and Employment Officer Anthony M. Luminang said the assistance was awarded during the August 19-20 visit of DOLE-Cordillera Regional Director Jesus Elpidio B. Atal Jr. to Kalinga, which also included his participation in the 3rd Provincial Tripartite Industrial Peace Council (PTIPC) meeting.

Luminang said the DILP provides livelihood assistance to workers considered vulnerable, disadvantaged or marginalized. Assistance may be extended either to organized groups or qualified individuals.

For organized groups, he said applicants must be registered with DOLE, maintain active status and comply with the program's requirements. Individual beneficiaries, meanwhile, may come from sectors identified as vulnerable or disadvantaged.

15 workers receive livelihood projects

According to Luminang, the beneficiaries covered during the regional director's visit included about 15 individuals, composed of self-employed workers and beneficiaries reached through convergence efforts with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Some beneficiaries are also among persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and other vulnerable workers seeking livelihood opportunities, he said.

The proposed livelihood activities were mostly small-scale ventures that could provide immediate sources of income, including snack vending, street food vending, lugaw vending and other food-related businesses.

Luminang said the beneficiaries themselves identify the livelihood activity they want to pursue and submit project proposals to DOLE.

The agency then evaluates the proposals and may modify or enhance them based on DILP guidelines to ensure that the requested assistance is appropriate to the applicant's needs and meets program requirements.

Assistance given as tools, equipment

Luminang clarified that the P595,551 was not distributed in cash.

Instead, the assistance was provided in the form of tools and equipment needed for the beneficiaries' respective livelihood projects.

He said this approach allows beneficiaries to receive the actual resources needed to establish their proposed businesses and income-generating activities.

The assistance is expected to help the beneficiaries start or strengthen their small-scale livelihood ventures and provide additional income for their families.

DOLE to monitor projects for one year

Following the awarding, DOLE will monitor the livelihood projects for one year to determine whether they are being maintained and whether they remain sustainable.

Luminang said monitoring will allow the agency to assess the condition and progress of each project and determine whether beneficiaries are able to sustain their livelihood activities using the assistance provided.

Beneficiaries who successfully maintain their projects may also qualify for additional DOLE assistance for livelihood enhancement or expansion, subject to program guidelines and fund availability.

Luminang explained that the DILP has three phases: formation, enhancement and restoration.

Formation involves the provision of initial livelihood assistance, while enhancement supports existing projects that require additional resources or improvement.

Restoration, meanwhile, is intended for livelihood projects that have been damaged or destroyed by calamities or other circumstances beyond the beneficiaries' control.

Luminang clarified that restoration is not intended for projects abandoned by beneficiaries.

Applications subject to funds, qualifications

Luminang said DOLE allocates funds for the DILP every year, but the approval of applications remains subject to the availability of funds and the applicants' compliance with program requirements.

He said DOLE-Kalinga generally follows a first-come, first-served approach among qualified applicants, while other proposals submitted by workers and organizations continue to undergo evaluation.

He encouraged other vulnerable workers and groups interested in the program to submit their livelihood proposals to DOLE-Kalinga for assessment.

However, he stressed that assistance will depend on whether the proposal meets DILP requirements and whether funds are still available at the time of application.

Once approved and funded, qualified beneficiaries may receive the tools and equipment needed to establish or expand their livelihood projects.