DSWD extends livelihood aid to ARMM indigent residents

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=849163
• Thursday, January 21, 2016

(PNA), LGI/NYP/EOF

COTABATO CITY, Jan. 21 (PNA) -- More than 12,000 indigent residents in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who wish to start up their own livelihood projects would receive financial assistance Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-ARMM), a social welfare official on Thursday said.

Rahima Alba, ARMM social welfare secretary, said the beneficiaries are members of 480 Self Employment Assistance-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) associations across the region.

We can now distribute what is due to each SEA-K association,” Alba told reporters.

She added the capital funds will assist the beneficiaries to put up own source of income such as small business or to support livelihood such as farming or fishing.

SEA-K associations, each composed of 25 members, were established in August 2012 through the initiative of DSWD-ARMM. Alba noted that the program was funded by the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which has a total funding of PhP120 million.

On Wednesday, 87 associations in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur received funding of PhP250,000 during a ceremony held at the ARMM Compound here.

Close to 400 more SEA-K associations from the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi are set to receive similar grants this year.

To receive capital funds, associations must submit a livelihood proposal to be validated by the Regional Program Management Office of DSWD-ARMM.

Alba noted that most of the proposals submitted were small businesses as well as fishing and farming-related projects.

The target recipients of the SLP are Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members, and beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the flagship initiative of DSWD-ARMM.

One of the recipients was Anisa Abdulfatah, 55, a resident of Poblacion, Shariff Aguak town in Maguindanao, who received PhP10,000 which she said will be used to put up a small cafeteria.

Abdulfatah is the president of MNLF Women’s Business Sector based in Shariff Aguak.

“Some of the members will also set up small eateries, similar to mine,” Abdulfatah said.

During the event, ARMM Executive Secretary Laisa Alamia posed a challenge to the recipients.

“We need to ensure the commitment of our SLP beneficiaries to use the capital funds purposely,” Alamia told the recipients.

"We hope that the business you will set up will prosper,” Alamia added.

“This is one of the most important programs of DSWD,” Alba said.