DOLE vows to fund livelihood project proposals in Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Oct. 21 (PNA) – The Department of Labor Employment has assured jobless residents of Leyte’s 2nd legislative district that the agency will provide livelihood projects in selected communities.

DOLE Eastern Visayas Regional Director Elias Cayanong said after the initial release of assistance to the district, the department is committed to extend more financial aid, in response to the proposal of Leyte 2nd district Rep. Henry Ong.

“Under the DOLE integrated livelihood projects, we are committed to extend livelihood assistance to the informal sector workers, who are oftentimes left out in the highly competitive labor market,” Cayanong said.

Earlier, Ong submitted series of proposals for evaluation and funding by DOLE. Some have already been funded, but Cayanong declined to disclose the amount.

For the last quarter of 2016, the DOLE’s livelihood project for six provinces got an allocation of PHP3 million. Submitted proposals are up for deliberation.

“Chances are always 100 percent. But the qualifications of the beneficiaries are still to be evaluated because there are those who keep on shifting from one project to another,” said Cayanong.

The labor department’s integrated livelihood program has been providing self-employment through livelihood with the hope of providing productive and gainful employment for the marginalized and unprotected workers.

Leyte’s 2nd congressional district covers the towns with high unemployment rate that includes 

Barugo, Burauen, Capoocan, Carigara, Dagami, Dulag, Julita, La Paz, MacArthur, Mayorga, Pastrana, Tabontabon, and Tunga. (PNA)

FPV/SQM/MA. MERCEDES C. ARPON, LNU INTERN/EGR