MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (PIA)–“My income has now doubled after the two months’ receipt of DOLE-X’s assistance. I am very happy that I can still provide to my family considering my advanced age and the difficulties of this pandemic,” Pepito Loranza, 63, said.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-10 released vending and retailing packages as livelihood assistance to Loranza, a senior citizen from Malaybalay City, as income support amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
DOLE-10 Bukidnon Provincial Field Office (Buk PFO) Chief Raul L. Valmores said he personally turned-over to Loranza the brand-new bicycle with buy and sell products like rags, baskets and bottles of honey in the amount of P20,000.00 during the department’s 87th founding anniversary, December 8, 2020.
“I am most thankful to DOLE-10 Buk PFO in their efforts of a fast and hassle-free processing of my livelihood grant. Likewise, I also appreciate its staff as my patron buyers of my products,” Loranza said.
Prior to receiving his DOLE assistance, Loranza said he was already vending various products such as woven baskets, rags, mats, brooms and bottled honey using his old bicycle around Malaybalay City proper.
“My previous worn-out bicycle could not cover distant areas. My new and sturdy bicycle, given by DOLE-10 now allows me to market to outlying areas as far as Barangays Kalasungay and San Jose,” the entrepreneur shared.
Further, with the additional livelihood assistance, Loranza is now capable of marketing the products made by his neighbors. He can purchase larger bulks of rags, baskets, brooms and other products to his wider clients even to government offices and eateries in the city.
Valmores said the senior citizens are among the eligible beneficiaries of the Kabuhayan Program, a component of the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP), that aims to reduce poverty through the creation of enterprises that help augment income and generate jobs.
“We in the department make sure senior citizens are given equal access to employment and economic opportunities as part of our decent work agenda and inclusive growth,” Valmores said.
The livelihood assistance was under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) which is the Department’s contribution to the government’s agenda of inclusive growth through massive job generation and poverty reduction.
Subject to guidelines and requirements, the assistance is given to eligible vulnerable and marginalized workers as a grant for capacity building on livelihood and entrepreneurial undertakings. (DOLE10/PIA10)
