CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan. 13 (PIA) --A total of Php 13,004,118.25 grants were released by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Cagayan de Oro City Field Office (CDO FO) for the calendar year 2019 under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (DILEEP).

DOLE-X CDO FO Chief Ebba B. Acosta said about Php8,002,900 of this amount has been disbursed for the provision of emergency employment to 1,228 displaced and disadvantaged workers from the two districts of the city. Their 10 to 30-day work scope includes road maintenance and de-clogging of canals, tree planting, coastal clean-up, street sweeping and cleaning of public facilities with each worker receiving Php3,650 to Php10,950 salary, depending on the number of actual days worked.

Some 78 vulnerable workers like parents of child laborers, persons with disability (PWDs), senior citizens, women, and indigenous persons (IPs) have also availed of the DOLE individual starter kits up to Php 20,000 each. Among the projects given to them were hog fattening, carpentry services, vegetable gardening, hog raising and breeding, bigasan, ukay-ukay business, rice trading, sari-sari with food eatery, tattoo shop and balut-selling.

Moreover, a total of Php3,618,394 accounts for 13-group projects involving 1,967 beneficiaries were also released. Macajalar Wharf Porter's Association - Federation of Free Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative with 99 members received Php 270,000 for their consumer store project. Another livelihood assistance amounting to Php561,000 was given to the 1,420 members of the Del Monte Bugo Cannery Union as additional capital for their bakery equipment. Senior citizen group United Elderly Association of Barangay Consolacion with 60 members received Php495,000 for their project, printing services, and school supplies trading.

In consonance with the priority target beneficiaries of DILEEP and Section 36(a) of Republic Act No. 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, three women groups were also provided livelihood assistance. Php738,706 was extended to Alliance of Two Hearts Conference-Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Cagayan de Oro City, Inc. for their consumer store enhancement project. The said project aims to provide additional income to the 65 women who are all Typhoon Sendong victims. Barangay Women's Development Committee of Barangay 25 and Zone 12D BWDC/Kalipi Bigasan ni Nanay received Php92,905 and Php130,000 for their Rice Enhancement and Eco-Friendly Bags Making projects, respectively.

Responding to Oro's high demand for ecobags, PWD groups-Hope for Children-Person with Special Needs, Inc. and Person with Disability Lapasan Association were given Php151,410 and Php129,373 respectively for their Eco-friendly Bags Making Project. Another PWD group, Parents of Children with Special Needs of Brgy. Carmen was given Php150,000 for their Consumer Store project.

Likewise, three farmer groups were also given livelihood assistance. The Tagpuangi Fisherfolks Association composing of 44 members received Php300,000 for their bottled bangus and sardines production project while Tuburan Stock Farm Association and Paradise Village Carp beneficiaries Farmers Irrigation Association, Inc, each received Php150,000 for their general merchandise project and agricultural supplies trading project, respectively.

Also, the 2018 Best DOLE-assisted Livelihood Project winner for region 10, Dire Husi, Initiative, Inc., composing of 26 youth-members, received Php300,000 as enhancement to their printing services project. (Akisa L. Guro-Boriongan/DOLE X/PIA10)