The first district of Negros Oriental received P8.4 million  from  the Self Employment Assistance Kaunlaran  Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development  and was distributed to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who were enrolled in the program in year 2008,  and would graduate from the program on 2013.

Regional director Ma. Evelyn  Macapobre of the DSWD stressed  the importance of transparency as she acknowledged the presence of the LCEs from the municipalities.

The checks were presented in La Libertad where the recipient towns  were led by their mayors and  social welfare officers.

Present were board members Lilan Estacion, Jessica Koppin and Georgita Martinez.

Estacion emphasized  the huge responsibility they took from the time they submitted their proposal until they  finish paying for  their loan while making their proposed business work.

The 1,224 Pantawid Pamilya members have been consistent in complying with the conditions of the program for more than three years. This  includes pre-natal and post natal care, immunization, weighing and attendance to family development sessions. In order for the members to continually receive the P500/month cash grant for health and an 85 percent monthly school attendance for their children and to receive the P300/month/child allocation for education but limited to a maximum of three children only.

Ayungon  town received about  P1.6 million  for 240 beneficiaries, followed by Bindoy with P1.5 million for 230 beneficiaries, P58,,000 for Jimalalud for 85 beneficiaries, P1.7 million for La Libertad who had the biggest number of recipients at 269, Tayasan with P954,000 for 140 beneficiaries, and Vallehermoso who received the biggest number of loans at P2 million for 260 beneficiaries.

The interest-free loan from SEAK gives each beneficiary a chance to be economically active through small scale entrepreneurship they themselves identified to undertake.

The press release said the  trainings, capability building workshops in making business proposals, basic bookkeeping, financial management and most of all saving strategies were given to them as a pre-requisite  for their loan. The opportunity provided by the SEAK program puts these identified poor in the subsistence level of survival.*RG

back to top