ILOILO — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has poured more than P396.84 million into livelihood grants across Western Visayas, benefiting 26,003 individuals last year as part of a sustained push to turn poor and vulnerable households into self-reliant entrepreneurs through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
DSWD Western Visayas assistant regional director for operations Katherine Joy Lamprea said the program is designed not as short-term aid but as a long-term investment in self-sufficiency, noting encouraging signs that beneficiaries are sustaining and growing their enterprises.
“This is a government initiative designed as a grant, and we’re thrilled to see that our beneficiaries are genuinely taking care of this investment,” Lamprea said.
DSWD data show that 23,663 beneficiaries received seed capital for livelihood projects, while 2,340 individuals were granted enhanced assistance to strengthen existing or higher-value enterprises.
The program prioritizes those considered most economically at risk, including former Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, members of poor and vulnerable sectors, displaced workers, solo parents, Indigenous Peoples, former combatants, and returning overseas Filipino workers.
Beyond income generation, the SLP has also been deployed as a peace-building tool.
Under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) Program, DSWD allocated P52 million in grants to 3,548 beneficiaries from 176 conflict-prone communities, aimed at promoting economic stability in areas affected by unrest.
Lamprea said while individual grants remain available, the agency is increasingly encouraging collective enterprises to maximize impact.
“Starting this year, we’ve set the grant amount to P20,000 per individual. However, we believe that working in groups allows for collaboration, shared learning, and broader support,” she explained.
To improve sustainability, the DSWD pairs financial assistance with financial literacy training and entrepreneurial skills development, a combination that has resulted in a 60 to 70 percent success rate among Sustainable Livelihood Associations, according to Lamprea.
DSWD regional director Joselito Estember said the agency also assists beneficiaries in securing permits and licenses, ensuring that livelihood projects operate within legal frameworks and have better chances of long-term viability.
The program’s impact was highlighted during the National Alunsina: Kabuhayan Convention Bazaar last September and the recent opening of a livelihood showroom at the DSWD regional office, which provided beneficiaries direct access to markets and buyers./PN
