By NELJOY N. GALIGAO
ILOILO City — Six high-performing grassroots livelihood groups in Western Visayas are getting fresh capital to transform their community-based enterprises into bigger and more competitive businesses.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has poured a combined P1.8 million into six Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) in Iloilo, Antique and Aklan, providing them additional capital to diversify products, upgrade operations and break into wider markets.
Each association received a P300,000 Product Diversification Advancement Grant (PDAG) during a ceremonial cheque turnover in Iloilo City as part of the Handog ng Pangulo 2026 national event on Sept. 14.
The recipients were selected after meeting performance standards during DSWD’s routine monitoring, making the grants an incentive for grassroots enterprises that have demonstrated their capacity to sustain and develop their livelihood ventures.
The beneficiaries are the Calampitao SLP Association of Barangay Calampitao, Igbaras, Iloilo; Hilway Dos SLP Association of Zone VI Norte, Santa Barbara, Iloilo; Iglanot Rice and Feeds SLPA of Barangay Iglanot, Sibalom, Antique; Sibucauan SLP Association of Barangay Sibucauan, Tubungan, Iloilo; Sinuagan SLP Association of Barangay Sinuagan, Badiangan, Iloilo; and WOW Mambuquiao SLP Association of Barangay Mambuquiao, Batan, Aklan.
Under the Usbong Phase of DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program, the PDAG serves as an incentive mechanism designed to help successful livelihood associations move beyond their existing operations.
The additional capital may be used to develop new products suited to changing local demand, acquire better equipment, production materials and inventory, and expand the groups’ market reach.
The program ultimately seeks to help community-based micro-enterprises develop into larger commercial operations capable of generating more sustainable livelihoods.
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Hermogenes Aguilar, DSWD Field Office 6 Regional Director Joselito Estember and Iloilo Provincial Administrator Raul Banias led the awarding ceremony.
Batan’s Mayor Michael R. Ramos, Tubungan’s Mayor Roquito Tacsagon and Igbaras’ Mayor Vicente E. Escorpion Jr. also attended, representing local government support for the grassroots economic initiatives./PN
