TACLOBAN CITY— Sixty-three residents from Hilongos, Leyte, including farmers and former seafarers, have received P2 million worth of livelihood assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regional office.
According to DOLE-8, the aid was distributed through its West Leyte Field Office (WLFO) on October 3 under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), the agency’s flagship initiative that aims to reduce poverty by supporting marginalized and vulnerable sectors.
Two beneficiary groups — the San Isidro Farmers Association of Barangay San Isidro and the Hilongos Seafarers Association of Barangay San Juan — each received a livelihood package for a hog fattening project worth P1 million. The assistance included 100 piglets and 100 sacks of feeds per association.
Hilongos Mayor Manuel Villahermosa and senior labor and employment officer Darwinda Labastida, who also serves as the WLFO livelihood program focal person, led the turnover ceremonies held in the respective barangays.
Members of both associations expressed their gratitude to DOLE, saying the assistance would help them recover from economic hardships and provide more stable income sources for their families.
Barangay officials and public employment service office (PESO) manager Giovani Olo, along with barangay captains Reynaldo Tuco of San Isidro and Carmen Virdejo of San Juan, also attended the turnover and thanked the labor department for supporting local livelihood initiatives.
(LIZBETH ANN A.ABELLA)
