FIVE associations in Tanudan prove livelihood grants can grow and thrive beyond DSWD support

TANUDAN, Kalinga — Five livelihood associations in Tanudan, Kalinga are taking greater ownership and responsibility for sustaining their economic ventures after successfully operating and expanding the livelihood grants they received from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Cordillera.

The five associations formally took greater responsibility for their respective livelihood projects after three to five years of supervision and monitoring by the DSWD.

This followed the official turnover of the folders of the five DSWD PAMANA Livelihood Program Associations (PLPAs) to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Davidson Hotel.

The associations are beneficiaries of the DSWD PAMANA Livelihood Program, which provides socio-economic empowerment and financial capital to communities affected by or vulnerable to armed conflict, as well as geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Under the program, qualified PLPAs receive ₱300,000 in seed capital to establish collective livelihood ventures such as agricultural production, retail stores, and fishing projects. Associations that pass the DSWD’s assessment may qualify for an additional ₱300,000 for the second tranche and another ₱300,000 for the third tranche.

Tanudan has 17 organized PLPAs, five of which have been assessed as stable and operational. With their projects deemed sustainable, their folders were formally turned over to the MSWDO, which will now take a greater role in monitoring and supporting the organizations.

The five associations are the Matamas Association, Lumin-awaan Association, Donglayan Association, Pangol Farmers Livelihood Association, and Abagong Katabbukan Mandidiwin Association.

‘Greater ownership, accountability and responsibility’

Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Violy Awingan said the five PLPAs had operated under DSWD supervision and monitoring for the past three to five years before reaching the point where they could take greater responsibility for their livelihood projects.

Awingan clarified that the turnover does not mean the DSWD is completely cutting ties with the associations.

Instead, she said the transition gives the Municipal LGU and the PLPAs greater ownership, accountability, and responsibility in sustaining and developing the livelihood projects, while the DSWD remains available to provide assistance when needed.

“This marks a point where the LGU and the organization take greater ownership, accountability, and responsibility to sustain what has already been established,” she said.

Awingan also encouraged the associations to remain active, work together, and continue strengthening the livelihood ventures entrusted to them.

‘We entrust these projects to you with confidence’

DSWD Cordillera Regional Coordinator Robert Mayor said the agency is entrusting the livelihood projects to the local government and the associations with confidence that they will manage the grants responsibly and continue to nurture and expand the ventures.

“We entrust these projects to the capable hands of our associations and local leaders with confidence that they will continue to uphold transparency, accountability, and unity in managing these investments,” he said.

For the five Tanudan associations, the turnover marks more than a change in who monitors their projects. It represents a transition from beneficiaries of livelihood assistance to active stewards of enterprises built through years of hard work, cooperation, and community support.