To showcase the success stories of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) beneficiaries, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the SLP-National Program Management Office (SLP-NPMO), launched an online show entitled ‘SLP Kwentong Sibol’ last March 22.
The online show aims to put a human face to the figures and data of the program’s accomplishments by featuring true-to-life experiences and testimonials of SLP beneficiaries. This platform is also being used to disseminate accurate, factual, and clear information about the program.
“SLP Kwentong Sibol” hopes to present different journeys of SLP beneficiaries so that the public could have a deeper understanding of the program and how it brings significant change to its program participants.
For the pilot episode, SLP OIC-Director Edmon B. Monteverde was invited as a resource person to provide basic and essential information about the program, including its goal, eligibility requirements, and selection process.
“Inaasahan natin na mas mapalawak pa ang ating maaabot sa pagbabahagi ng mga istorya ng tagumpay at kabuhayan ng ating mga benepisyaryo. Layunin din natin na mas maipakilala ang programa sa mas nakararami nating mga kababayan (We hope to further expand our reach by sharing the stories of success and livelihood of our beneficiaries. It is also our goal to introduce the program to a wider audience),” Director Monterverde said.
Likewise, the story of Ms. Marjorie Ibarbia, a woman beneficiary leader of a Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) in Pasig City was featured. Ms. Ibarbia started to become an SLP participant in 2017 when she and four other individuals from their area formed an association. Their association, called “Pasig Line 2 SLPA” offers garment products, specifically curtains for different use.
Providing livelihood to Filipino households
SLP is a capability-building program that seeks to improve the program participants’ socio-economic status by implementing two different tracks. These include the Micro-enterprise Development (MD) Track which is designed for those who want to start a sustainable micro-enterprise and the Employment Facilitation (EF) Track which assists participants to land jobs that are appropriate to their skills and competencies.
Based on the Department’s Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 22 series of 2019, each household can enroll a maximum of two members pursuing two different tracks. A participant of the MD Track must be at least sixteen years old with written legal consent from the parents or the legal guardian while a participant in EF Track must be at least 18 years old upon employment.
Moreover, participants who passed the selection process and attended the required SLP orientation and skills training are eligible to receive livelihood assistance grants. For MD Track, participants may receive a maximum of Php 15,000.00 capital seed fund while EF Track participants may be provided with an Employment Assistance Fund of not more than Php 5,000.00 or a Skills Training Fund of not more than Php 15,000.00.
The program aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of its participants through accessing and acquiring the necessary assets to engage in and maintain a sustainable livelihood. ###
