DSWD Caraga delivers P23.2M in livelihood grants, UPLIFT aid to Agusan Norte
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga delivered various social protection and livelihood assistance to communities in Agusan del Norte during the Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat cum AguSerbisyo held on September 14 in Barangay Taod-oy, Magallanes.
The assistance included P23.2 million in livelihood grants for seven Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) associations, 916 feeding utensils for children beneficiaries, and financial aid for 657 UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) beneficiaries from Magallanes.
These interventions support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to strengthening social protection programs and promoting inclusive and sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable families under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
Through the SLP, DSWD Caraga, represented by Chief Administrative Officer Ramil Taculod, facilitated the ceremonial turnover of livelihood grants amounting to P23.2 million to seven SLP associations in the province. The assistance aims to help beneficiaries establish, develop, and sustain livelihood activities that can generate income and improve their economic well-being.
The grants are expected to give the associations with resources to strengthen their livelihood enterprises and create opportunities for their members to achieve greater self-reliance.
DSWD Caraga also facilitated the ceremonial turnover of a certificate to the provincial government of Agusan del Norte, headed by Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante, confirming the provision of 916 feeding utensils for children beneficiaries of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) in two municipalities of the province.
The SFP provides food augmentation to eligible children enrolled in child development centers, helping address their nutritional needs and support their health and well-being.
Also during the activity, the second batch of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) under the UPLIFT Program officially commenced for 657 beneficiaries from the Municipality of Magallanes. Each beneficiary received P2,000 in financial assistance to help address immediate household needs and provide support to individuals and families experiencing crisis.
Among those who received assistance was the partner of Julieta Yoyos of Barangay Caloc-an, Magallanes, whose family benefited from the program. She said the assistance helped them meet their daily needs, including providing school allowances for her children.
The delivery of these interventions demonstrates the government’s continuing efforts to ensure that social protection and livelihood programs reach vulnerable communities and provide assistance responsive to their needs.
The Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat cum AguSerbisyo brought together national government agencies and local government units to deliver essential services and assistance directly to communities in Agusan del Norte.
Gov. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante expressed her appreciation to the national government for bringing essential services and assistance directly to the province, noting that the Handog ng Pangulo provides an important opportunity for Agusanons to access government programs that respond to their livelihood and social protection needs. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)