ILOILO — Fifty-two transport workers in the municipality of Cabatuan, Iloilo are expected to benefit from a P1.5-million livelihood project of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 that aims to provide sustainable income opportunities beyond daily passenger transport, strengthening the economic security of drivers and operators amid rising financial challenges.
Implemented through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) in partnership with the Cabatuan local government, the Spare Parts Retailing and Vulcanizing Shop Project was launched on May 29, 2026.
Within just a month, the initiative has already begun generating livelihood opportunities for members of the Cabatuan Federation of Transport Association (CAFTA) and the Local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA), benefiting a total of 52 transport workers.
The project aims to improve the economic conditions of rural workers by creating sustainable, community-based enterprises.
But DOLE said the livelihood venture is designed not only to provide transport workers with an additional and stable source of income but also to strengthen the financial resilience of their families through self-employment and entrepreneurship.
Equipping beneficiaries with the necessary skills and resources will help promote long-term self-reliance, it stressed.
The Iloilo Field Office of DOLE Region 6 spearheaded the initiative, providing technical assistance, coordinating with stakeholders, and facilitating resources from the project’s planning stage up to its turnover to ensure successful implementation.
Cabatuan’s Mayor Elizalde Pueyo credited the project’s realization to the strong collaboration among the municipal government, DOLE, and other stakeholders.
“The establishment of this project is a remarkable achievement for our community. It represents our commitment to creating sustainable livelihood programs that empower our citizens,” he stated.
DOLE-6 director Atty. Sixto Rodriguez Jr. reiterated the agency’s commitment to helping vulnerable workers achieve economic independence through targeted livelihood interventions.
“We are committed to creating economic opportunities that foster self-reliance among our beneficiaries. This project exemplifies our ongoing efforts to advance inclusive growth and improve the livelihoods of our most vulnerable workers,” he said./PN
