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SOME 200 families in the Sudtungan Relocation Site in Basak, Lapu-Lapu City will be given a chance to start their own businesses and improve their lives through the Livelihood Development Program initiated by the University of San Jose-Recoletos in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment region 7.
On Oct. 23, 2009, the first group of 45 head of families were given their starter kits in a turnover ceremony at the USJ-R main campus attended by the DOLE 7 regional director Elias A. Cayanong.
Dr. Edgar R. Detuya, dean of the College of Commerce in USJ-R, said they have set aside a total sum of P1.6 million just for the 5-year developmental project. “P400,000 cash was DOLE's share of the budget which they have already turned over to us full on October 20, 2009.”
Detuya further said that they believe that through the program they can help the residents of the relocation site to start their own business by training them on livelihood skills like cosmetology where they will be trained how to do hair cuts, pedicure and manicure, and commercial cooking, fancy jewelry making and other labor outsource skills that they can use to get a living.
Aside from skills training, the beneficiaries will also be given training and seminar workshops on their spiritual, social, and education aspects, according to Detuya.
Residents of the Sudtungan Relocation Site are very happy to be chosen as beneficiary out of the many other relocation sites in Lapu-Lapu City.
Henreita Pagabo, one of the beneficiaries whose husband is paralyzed and could not anymore work as construction worker and gain income for the family said that she felt really blessed and happy that there are people who wants to help them.
“Ang akong gipili kanang pangluto para mamaligya na unya ko pohon og mga kanonon,” Pagabo said.
After the turn over ceremony, the group will proceed right away to training which will also be done in the USJ-R campus.
Cayanong said that DOLE has many livelihood projects implemented currently with the youth, fishermen, farmers and some displaced overseas Filipino workers.
Turning over of another batch of Starter Kits will follow in the next weeks to come according to Fr. Amado Emmanuel A. Bolilia, USJR INFECOP (Institute of Non-Formal Education and Community Outreach Program) coordinator and vice president for Religious Affairs.
