(CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES)

Amounting to P1.5 million worth of Anti-Poverty Fund was recently provided by the Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas to mark its 77th Anniversary on December 8 of this year.

DOLE-7 Regional Director Elias Cayanong said about 645 beneficiaries in Central Visayas will be assisted through the 12 projects under the “Capacity Building for Livelihood Formation or Enhancement assistance” to be able them to start a life with a renewed spirit and dignity.

Director Cayanong elaborated the Capacity Building for Livelihood Formation or Enhancement assistance is aimed to build the capacity of the underprivileged constituents of Central Visayas.

Thus, the DOLE has concentrated its huge efforts and resources in preparing these beneficiaries to deal with the present socio-economic condition in the region as explained by DOLE-7 Regional Director Cayanong.

He disclosed the assistance began with the essential social preparation which embarks towards unlearning group norms to best prepare their transformation as self-help workers to self-employed entrepreneurs.

“We are not good at starting projects without follow-through. We maintain our stand that projects should be guided and assessed to best achieve a better result – better life for beneficiaries – following the path to a poverty free tomorrow,” Director Cayanong elaborated.

DOLE, moreover, substantiated those less fortunate beneficiaries such as in Catarman, Cordova, Cebu would be able to augment their income through the establishment of micro-enterprises which will directly assist them under the anti-poverty assistance.

Also, by means of anti-poverty assistance a new assistance which produces small fishing boat by the 40 fishing boat makers, who are members of the organization, will supply inexpensive small fishing boats including their marginalized fisher folk as well as the community and the entire municipality.

“Our dream of promoting the reliable fishing boat making skills of our members will now come true. We are thankful to the anti-poverty thrust of the President because without it nobody will visit, train and prepare us to the path of a poverty free community. We are grateful to the Department of Labor and Employment for making us believing in the poor fisher folks like us.”

The labor department, also, mentioned that there are 112 fishing folks in Catarman, Cordova, Cebu are currently benefiting the P160,000 worth of Catarman Integrated Livelihood Project Investment.