NegOcc fisher folk receive livelihood assistance from DOLE

By Raymart Escopel

ILOILO City – The livelihood programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Visayas continue to expand to provide sources of income to the marginalized.

A total of 160 marginalized fisher folk from Brgy. Gargato, La Castellana in Negros Occidental received P960,000 worth of financial assistance through the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP) of the DOLE. It aims to support the livelihood programs of the marginalized.

The beneficiaries were members of four people’s organizations (POs) which are all based in the village. They hope to engage in programs that could sustain their daily needs.

These include Fisher folk Association for Coastal Development (FACD), Gargato Fishers and Fish Dealers Association (GAFFDA), San Roque Small Fisher folks Association (SAROSFFA), and Asosasyon sang mga Imol nga Mangingisda sa Gargato (AIMAG).

The amount received is expected to be utilized for the local government units’ projects on fish, vegetable and food vending; rice retailing; dried fish processing and vending; swine fattening; shrimp paste making; crude oil selling; fishing supply outlet; dressed chicken selling; feed supply; oyster culture; salt trading; sari-sari store/eatery/cafeteria/ barbeque stand fattening; shrimp paste making; crude oil selling; fishing supply outlet; dressed chicken selling; feed supply; oyster culture; salt trading; sari-sari store/eatery/cafeteria/ barbeque stand business; cook stone making; ready-to-wear buy and sell; battery charging services; and, duck raising.

DOLE-Negros Occidental Provincial Manager Ma. Victoria Mondragon encouraged the beneficiaries to use the financial assistance to be productive and sustainable.

On his part, village chief Catalino Yulo, who responded on behalf of the beneficiaries, promised that they will do their best to make the projects sustainable for the benefit of the marginalized fisher folk./PN